Robin Miller's Mailbag for March 27, presented by Honda Racing / HPD

Your questions for Robin should 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: What a great win for IndyCar. Colton Herta is the real deal. I think Pato will be just as good. COTA raced way better than I thought it would for IndyCar. Great weekend! Your thoughts?

Jeff Loveland

RM: They’re both very special young racers, and I don’t think IndyCar could have asked for a better story. I predicted a couple weeks ago that COTA would be a good race because if IndyCar can put on a good show at Barber, it made sense that with COTA’s wide open spaces it would be racy. I know a lot of people thought the fast corners might make it tough to pass, but watching the replay it was a wild west show and entertaining as hell. Some damn good driving too, only one yellow. Pato also did a good job considering he’d never seen the track until Friday and it was his first race of 2019. He’s a badass and Trevor Carlin will be all smiles for the next nine races. It was a great day for IndyCar. Period.

Q: What a terrific drive by the kid! Looks like the Yankee family may have a new Bambino! The race was excellent, and what class by Bryan Herta. You know damn well he was exploding with pride, but turned the focus of his immediate post-race interview on his driver. Well done, Herta clan! This is what we need, What a great performance this rookie class is putting on.

Skip Ranfone

RM: I’ve said for years that BH is the most honest and dignified car owner in IndyCar, as well as just a humble great guy. And he’s really been hands-off with Colton the past couple years. Of course they talk, and Bryan answers questions and offers suggestions, but he wanted the kid to chart his own course. Bryan hesitated about doing the RACER video with me afterwards because he didn’t want to steal any of Colton’s glory. The kid is so much like his father – gracious, honest and humble – but this isn’t your ordinary teenager. He’s miles ahead of his age and profession.

Q: Really great to see the young kids in IndyCar shine at COTA. Both Herta and O'Ward raced extremely well all weekend. The talk of which driver Penske would snatch up (Rossi or Herta or both) is good for the future of the sport. I haven't seen this much excitement and potential changing of the guard in a long time. The race was interesting, but the crowd size seemed underwhelming. TV coverage was great. Danica being announced as Indy 500 commentator is also good, as anything to build interest helps. The small teams proved they can compete! Very gratifying, especially after Herta had the engine change. All the new drivers were in the mix at various times. If I were Pagenaud or some of the other underperformers I would be rightfully worried about job security. Who have you got replacing Pagenaud?

Craig Bailey, Palm Bay, FL

RM: It’s crazy and funny and flattering that some RACER readers already have Colton headed to F1 with Gene Haas, and you can bet that R.P. is paying attention and has to be impressed. But the friendship between Bryan Herta and Michael Andretti is a strong one, and Colton and George Michael Steinbrenner are appreciative of the opportunity that Michael gave them in Lights and the tech support that Harding/Steinbrenner is receiving. I think there is a lot of loyalty there. Just like Alex Rossi, Honda and Andretti Autosport. P.T. said over the weekend that if The Captain calls, you don’t turn him down. Not many have (none I can think of), but these are two unique circumstances. And we’re only two races into 2019, so I wouldn’t be pink-slipping Simon yet. Does he need to win a race or two? Probably. But he can still drive, and obviously his qualifying luck needs to improve.

Q: I’m sure you’re receiving a ton a feedback from fans this week about the IndyCar race at COTA. I know my voice is just one of many, but I would like to add my own observations. In the week leading up to the race, I spent some time trying to gauge what F1 fans thought about IndyCar racing at one of “their” tracks. Since IndyCar is airing on Sky Sports F1 this season, I checked the comments from F1 fans on their Twitter feed, as well as on some YouTube videos. Here’s what I noticed. Leading up to the race, F1 fans seemed pretty dismissive of IndyCar. “The cars are slow," “There’s no technology,” “Everyone is driving the same car,” “The drivers are just F1 rejects,” and “Where’s Ted?” seemed to be the dominant sentiments (not sure what that last one was about).

After the race, the tune changed. The F1 faithful were making comments like “F1 should take notes,” or "The cars are slower but who cares?” or “I wish F1 ran without track limits,” “I still hate the Halo” and “I wish we could have seen that in Canada.” Ultimately, what I gather from this is that F1 fans are very proud of their sport’s status as the “pinnacle of motorsport.” The fast, expensive cars and technology are central to the appeal, and that’s not going to change. However, they’re quite envious of the close wheel-to-wheel racing in IndyCar, and they desperately wish F1 offered more of the same.

If the reaction from the F1 fan base is any indication, IndyCar is onto something good and needs to keep it going. I know a lot of old-school IndyCar fans long for the days of yesteryear when the sport had technological innovation and diversity to rival F1, but time has proven that, in the words of Admiral Ackbar, “it’s a trap.” The spending that such an approach to motorsport requires is unsustainable (even F1 is finding that out the hard way), and worst of all, it would kill the awesome racing product that IndyCar has now. Please Robin, don’t let IndyCar fall into that trap. I’ll be at Barber next weekend, ready for some of the exciting wheel-to-wheel racing that I’ve come to love and expect from IndyCar. I would hate for it to be ruined because the loudest 10% of IndyCar fans want this to be the 1960s again. We have what we have, and it’s good. I mean, how can you beat what we saw yesterday? Love it for what it is. Respect the past, but live in the present.

Garrick Aube

RM: Thanks for sharing this feedback. I remember when Champ Car went to Montreal and they all said nobody would show up because the cars were seven seconds a lap slower and no technology and blah, blah, blah. Of course the place was packed (thanks to Patrick Carpentier, Alex Tagliani and Sebastien Bourdais) and the racing was good (but nothing like last Sunday) and nobody cared about the lap time difference. We talked in our weekly NBC conference call about not dwelling on the differences between F1 and IndyCar because it’s irrelevant, and it’s good to see that F1 fans appreciate good racing. I think most people in this country today get hooked to watch hard, close racing with overtaking, and the technology is secondary.

Of course that was one of Indy’s major draws for 75 years and we loved all the different cars and engines, but it’s doubtful that will ever return. However, the competition in IndyCar is second to none, and there were so many great battles at COTA it was hard to keep up (but NBC director Mike Wells did a great job), and I don’t think you could ask any more from a road race with 24 cars over almost four miles. We’ve traded the Eagle, Lotus, Novi, Coyote, Offy, 4-cam Ford, A.J. Watson, Dan Gurney, Mickey Thompson and Andy Granatelli for some of the best racing we’ve ever seen. Hell, I think all of us old-schoolers miss those innovative days, but like you said, cherish the history and enjoy today’s competition.

The future looks promising for O'Ward. Image by LAT

Q: Holy crap! Two young stars in the same year, the likes we haven't seen since Michael and Al Jr. Herta's spot is secure, but Pato is a bit in limbo. I know you felt IndyCar didn't really do enough to hold on to Danica when she was a presence; could the same thing happen with Pato? I watched the NBC pre-race, and the kid even seems to be charismatic. Who can step up and make sure we have a great future rivalry stay intact?

Brian Henris, Fort Mill, SC

RM: I wouldn’t worry about Pato’s future. I think Trevor Carlin is a smart guy who knows talent and his track record speaks for itself, so I think he’ll do everything possible to keep IndyCar’s other teenage sensation under contract. If Trevor can’t, then there will be a long line behind him ready to snap up this talented kid.

Q: I am curious to know your observations about the attendance at COTA. I watched qualifying Saturday on NBCSN and thought the crowd was pretty sparse. Sunday’s attendance looked markedly better, but still way down from a F1 or MotoGP crowd. Any feedback from the powers-that-be regarding the inaugural race? From my spot on the couch, I thought the racing was excellent – certainly better than anything F1 has put on there. I would’ve liked to see Power and Rossi duke it out for the win at the end, but Will’s mechanical during the last stop made that moot. A nice win for Harding-Steinbrenner and Colin Herta.

Joe, Carmel

RM: They said they were expecting 30,000 on race day and I think they got it, but it’s difficult to judge because COTA is so big and people are so spread out. Leigh Diffey heard 80,000 for F1 on race day, and I heard 50,000 for MotoGP. No feedback from COTA yet, but we went downtown for dinner every night and nobody knew there was a race, so a dedicated marketing program would be nice for 2020. But they had to be thrilled with the race.

Q: First, kudos to COTA for offering the $100,000 bonus. The purses are still pathetic, however it is at least a step in the right direction. Second, it seemed really hard to gauge the crowd. What is your estimate, and do you think organizers will be happy?

Tate, Kansas

RM: How COTA’s bottom line came out likely depends on what the sanction fee was and if there was any kind of sponsorship to help. I know some suite tickets were $600 and grandstands were $100 to $160 (cheap compared to F1), so if they had 30,000 paid, I imagine it could have flirted with the black.

Q: Was at the race over the weekend. For the inaugural event, it was generally very good. Do you have any estimate of the attendance?

Emmett M. Murphy, Mesquite, TX

RM: All I know if that 30,000 seats were reportedly sold, so that’s the number I’d use.

Q: First off, congrats to Colton Herta for scoring a historic first win in Austin, Texas. Second, I really enjoyed the IndyCar race on a world class F1 track. I really hope to see the series race on these type of F1 tracks even though they're 15 seconds slower, because it's not about the performance of the race car, it's about the race product and how well the drivers entertains the fans at the track. I think more people will start attending the IndyCar race in Austin in the future.

Alistair Fannell

RM: Talking to first-timers after the race, I’d say it went over quite well and they said they were going to tell their friends. It’s cheaper than F1, and obviously a helluva lot better show in terms of raw racing.

Q: What a great way to end the inaugural race at COTA.  I’ve always been a fan of Bryan Herta, and can’t wait to see what is in Colton’s future. The track is beautiful, but I thought it was strange that the pit exit is almost right at the apex of the first corner. Did any of the drivers mention this as a problem?

Mark Suska, Lexington, OH

RM: Nope, not to my knowledge. It made it interesting when someone on cold tires rejoined the race and blended into traffic going into Turn 1. But everyone got through, even though there were some close calls.

Q: What a great race at COTA, action everywhere. IndyCar has all the ingredients to be successful this year, so my hats off to the leadership. My question is, does IndyCar need to change qualifying, or do teams need to get their drivers out there and put in a good lap in the beginning of the session? Waiting for optimal conditions has put some good cars in the back of the grid.

Harold, Dayton

RM: They added 10 minutes because of COTA’s length and some guys still got caught out, but that’s not IndyCar’s fault so I don’t think anything needs to change other than ensuring everyone gets at least one flying lap on the clock.

We can definitely do better than 'Little Hertamania' in the nickname department. Image by IndyCar.

Q: If Bryan was "High Speed" Herta, what is or should be Colton's nickname?

David, Waxhaw, NC

RM: Little Hertamania is all I can think of at the moment. T-Bell called him “Crafty Colton” but we need something distinctive. Maybe RACER can sponsor a contest: two free tickets to the Indy 500 for whomever comes up with a cool nickname. I’ll run that one by Paul Pfanner.

Q: What a great race and a great win for Herta! Cars all sorts of sideways, and there was plenty of slicing and dicing, especially with Graham and Lil’ Santucci (thanks P.T.), great passing and enough strategies and differences in the tires to really make it a great race. Team Penske and Andretti knew the risks of playing that game of when to pit so I don't feel too bad for Will, but man he was so fast it was just awesome to watch – especially with Rossi mirroring his every move and just waiting to pounce at the right time. We may have missed out on an incredible finish, but it doesn't take away from how fast Herta was and his keeping Newgarden in his rear view mirror.

Now, on to the grievances. "I gotta lotta problems with you people, and now you're gonna hear about it!" What is up with P.T.? Does he not pay any attention to what is going on during qualifying or the race? During qualifying he was telling the viewers that Herta is still out on track going for one more lap when the graphic is telling us he's in the pit, and then Townsend had to correct him "Umm, Herta is in the pits Paul..." then during the race he is telling the viewers that Felix is out of his car and in the medical tent when in actuality he was still in the car as the team was getting it fixed to get it back out on track. Wake up, P.T.! We'd like you to join the rest of the class.

The yellow was insanely long for what seemed like a rather quick cleanup. With the track being that long, the yellow should've been maybe three laps? Can anyone explain why it took so long? Rossi might've had a chance for a podium if the powers that be also didn't fall asleep at the wheel – a la P.T. – with going green.

Jake Murray

RM: Kevin Lee and I did the booth on Friday’s second practice period, and in P.T.’s defense, we only have a couple of monitors so it’s not easy to see everything in an instant. It did look like Colton was going for one more flyer before he ducked into the pits. And I heard an IndyCar radio say Felix was headed to the infield hospital for a checkup, so that’s an honest mistake. As for the yellows, here’s IndyCar race director Kyle Novak:

"The FCY was doubled in length because of two factors. First, the 10 was blocking the pit entry, active AMR safety personnel were on the scene, and debris was scattered in the area. The majority of the time we can open the pits the first time by under the pace car, in this case we couldn’t open until the second time by. The pits had to remain closed because we can’t have cars pitting through an incident scene. Combine the previous with the fact the leaders were on the back side of a longer circuit when the incident occurred, which essentially added another half slow lap of yellow to the process.  Second, after the “one to go” signal was given to the field, a fender liner flew out of the pace car directly into the restart line in T20, which added an extra lap to the FCY. So essentially, what would have been a three lap FCY was doubled to six because of the location of the incident preventing the pits from being opened and the extra lap under yellow to clean up the debris in T20."

Q: Miller, you know I’m a fan of NBC and on the bandwagon of throwing rotten fruit at ABC. I also fully understand that it was a really big deal that Colton Herta won the IndyCar race on Sunday. However, did you know that every position from 6-10 changed hands on the last lap and a half? I didn’t see it. I never even saw a replay after the flag. Herta was effectively a runaway winner. Focus on the battle, cut to the flag, and cut back. What are your thoughts on the IndyCar approach to track limits? I read that IndyCar had the track set up in a way that “it wasn’t faster to exceed track limits.” If it wasn’t faster, they wouldn’t have redrawn the track outside of Turn 19 with all the rubber they put down. I don’t mind a lack of track limit enforcement if the drivers are attempting to keep it on track and run wide. The idea that they’d just give up trying looked bad. That’s on the series, not the drivers. The drivers need to go as fast as possible.

Grumpy complaints aside, that was a great weekend and a pretty good race. Just imagine what O’Ward would be doing with Andretti technology on his car instead of whatever Carlin is giving him? He’s clearly making it work, but look where his teammate ran. Forget signing Rossi. Honda’s got a grip on him. Penske should be looking to sign O’Ward.

Ryan in West Michigan

RM: I think that considering the historic moment, staying with Colton was absolutely the right thing to do, because that was the story – not 6-10. NBC showed non-stop action all day from what I saw on the replay, so missing out on that last lap wasn’t that important. I love having no limits, that’s why they poured all that concrete and it made for some exciting passes. Pato did an excellent job, but give Carlin a little time to get to know this kid and he’ll be right up there (he ran fifth or sixth all day) every race. I imagine R.P. is making notes.

Power: Not a fan of closing the pits during yellows. Image by IndyCar

Q: I couldn’t agree more with Will Power that the pits being closed during a yellow is a B.S. rule. Why can’t the powers that run IndyCar change it? Rossi, Power and Dixon deserved better.

Paul Fitzgerald, Indianapolis

RM: See my answer above your question, but both Team Penske and Andretti had an opportunity to pit before that yellow and chose to stay out. Townsend Bell kept warning them, and sure enough, it happened. They got burned. But that doesn’t mean closing the pits is the right thing to do, either.

Q: Power was pretty critical of the yellow flag and closed pit at COTA, and of the IndyCar rules in general on the topic. Is that feeling the consensus in the paddock? What is your view? I can understand both arguments. Also, why did the yellow fly so long at COTA after the wreck? The car was sitting back in the pits for repairs while several more yellow laps were completed. What gives?

Jim, Indy

RM: The consensus (I’m guessing) is that guys who lead a lot of laps like Power, Dixon, JoNew, Rossi, RHR despise closed pits, and guys in the back love them because it gives them a chance to flip the race with off-strategy and a lucky yellow. See Kyle Novak’s earlier answer above about the caution.

Q: First time writing to you, Robin. I've always appreciated your opinion. Once again, the absurd yellow rules took the race away from a couple of drivers that deserved the chance to fight it out for the win, and in the process robbed us of a real finish. I have been to the Indianapolis 500 for every race since 1968, plus many other IndyCar races. I don't understand why a series continues to use a system that, as Will Power stated, is B.S. Perhaps you can enlighten me? I had hoped that we had seen the last of Danica Patrick last May. I hope that the 500 telecast doesn't become a Danica commercial and more of her self-promotion. Wish you were given more airtime on NBC.

Bewildered Bruce

RM: The first 10 years I was around IndyCar racing, the pits were always open. Then in the late '70s, maybe at Texas World Speedway, the pits were closed and the pace car was brought out ahead of the field because USAC was having trouble scoring the race. That remained the norm until 2013, when Beaux Barfield (then IndyCar’s chief steward) re-instituted open pits. But it was scrapped halfway through 2014 because some team managers bitched about the strategy being screwed up, and some drivers complained it was too dangerous. Now think about this: a full-course yellow on a street circuit can be plenty dangerous since the drivers will all haul ass after passing the scene of the yellow, but they yell about the danger. And the safety car can be a hazard on a blind corner if guys are running hard. Now, a pace car slows them down and the ensuing pack up puts everyone in the pits together – another dangerous situation.

On the ovals, it used to be insane when everyone raced back to the start-finish line under caution, so it’s probably more dangerous. But as you’ve seen time and time again, that closed pit can screw the leaders and change the completion of the race. Beaux used to catch grief for delaying the yellow when possible to allow the leaders a chance to hit pit road, but that made more sense than ruining somebody’s race.

Q: What a good race at COTA. Do you feel IndyCar should change open pits rule, or do you like it the way it is? Second, boy does Roger Penske have a decision to make if Pagenaud continues to struggle. He has Colton, O'Ward and Rossi to pull from. People say Honda will not let Rossi go, but they thought the same before Pagenaud came aboard. I know it’s early, but who do you think?

RFB

RM: I always liked leaving the pits open, and if somebody is flying through Turn 4 and the yellow flashes on and they can get slowed down and pit, good for them. It’s part of racing. Losing the lead and usually the race because of a caution that closes the pits isn’t my idea of real racing, but safety seems to carry the day. Way too early for Penske speculation, but remember R.P. got rid of two-time national champ Tom Sneva for a fresh-faced kid named Mears, so Simon knows the pressure is on to produce.

Q: What a great race we got at COTA. The passing (I think it was Pato O’Ward going around the outside of the massive triple-apex corner), the strategy, and the fantastic result were all the hallmarks of an awesome race. However, IndyCar need to get its act together with red flags. It’s absurd. Two races in a row have had qualifying ruined. In this race it was especially dumb because people were spinning after the timing line after they finished their final laps. They weren’t going to impede anyone, so throw a local yellow for the corner after the timing line (where the spins happened) so people take it easy after they finish their lap and let everyone get a lap in. In most other forms of racing, there has to be a really big accident for anyone to talk about a red flag in qualifying. But IndyCar gives out red flags left, right and center for people having a little spin and getting beached in the gravel.

Beyond the red flag, are there any rumors of IndyCar changing the approach to closing the pits when yellows come out? I know that Power was livid about getting hosed for staying out a little longer, and I do feel for the guys who dominate races only to lose because a yellow comes out and they aren’t allowed to pit. That said, it makes things exciting. Maybe that makes me a hypocrite after my stance on red flags in qualifying. What’s your opinion on the reds in qualifying and closing the pits under yellow?

Max Camposano, Bethlehem, PA

RM: I think IndyCar only goes red when there is a disabled car on the racing surface or just off it (like TK last Saturday) and again, it’s more for safety than anything else. No plans to open the pits to my knowledge (see one of my answers above) and I don’t blame Will for being mad, but his team could have brought him in when the window opened.

For Ganassi, stickered reds are preferable to scuffed. Image by LePage/LAT

Q: IndyCar is better because of no power steering, no tire warmers, no track limits. Why are scuffed reds better than sticker reds? And, if they are, why don't teams use practice to scuff them in? I recall back in the day there was a maximum fuel allotment that teams sometimes struggled to meet. Is that allotment still in force? I can't recall anything recently about teams being short on fuel.

Rick in Lisle, IL

RM: Let’s ask Mike Hull, the managing director of Ganassi Racing:

“We don’t think that scuffed reds are better. Sticker reds or blacks, in our opinion, are preferred. Those who started the race on scuffed reds went 12 to 14 laps, later in the race, those on sticker reds went 16 or 17 laps. IndyCar has a fuel allotment number based upon what they think the mileage should be – everyone now makes the number, with some amount of management, but based upon we now make, there is more window. At Austin, without the yellow, those that stopped with 18 or 19 laps to go, would have had to slow to save a bit at some point during the run to make it, the yellow saved them, and screwed those who stopped after the pit lane closed. You want to run full rich in the last segment, so at Austin you assume when calling the race that you needed to get to 17 to go to do just that. Power, Rossi, and Dixon were victims of the math. RHR stopped one lap before the yellow, while Colton’s group were at least two laps prior – if it hadn’t have gone yellow, Power, Rossi, Dixon would have run full rich – Colton’s group would have had to make fuel to the end.”

Q: I didn’t know Father Glenn O’Connor real well, but since about 1989, he let me and another priest stay at his house, the parish rectory for race weekend. He got us rides to the track, he got us garage passes. We rode home with him after the race the year he worked on Scott Goodyear’s team and they lost at the last minute to Jacques Villeneuve. On race weekends, he would have weddings, say Mass and still run to the track. We still stay at St. Joe’s even after he left there. I know he worked hard to support programs that helped those in need. We really enjoyed his enthusiasm for racing. But we admire him even more for being a truly dedicated and faithful priest. I just wanted to add my own words of appreciation for Father Glenn and to say my own thanks to you for taking the time to honor him in Sunday’s broadcast.

Father Pat Stewart, Diocese of Lexington, KY

RM: Your story sounds like Glenn’s life: always helping somebody every day,  and I truly never remember seeing him without a smile. He loved racing too, and blended his profession with his passion. Never been a kinder soul.

Q: Hope you had a great weekend at COTA. Just wanted to say how great the quality of NBC Gold is, and what a big difference I noticed between an IndyCar practice session versus a NASCAR broadcast. When watching the IndyCar practice sessions, P.T., Bell, Kevin Lee and yourself were talking about the car. The setups. Dissecting every little bit of information about the car, especially when Herta blew a motor, and focusing on what’s important in qualifying and race set-up. They don’t spend so much time going over the beginners’ guide to a race weekend, or waste our time talking about what the drivers did over the weekend.

It feels like NASCAR practice sessions are just routine filler focusing too much on the previous week, drivers’ social media etc. I’m an avid fan of both motorsports series; , however, I feel it’s a disservice to fans watching practice and not being given the information and guidance to what’s important in a race weekend. NBC Gold gives us true IndyCar fans what we want: stats, information and the occasional joke, but at the end it’s all around a true practice session. That’s informative and exciting when building up the race weekend. Thanks, Robin, for the great coverage as well. Really look forward to seeing you in pit road during the sessions.

Joe, Shelton, CT

RM: Thanks Joe. I told P.T. and Townsend that their information on Friday when they were in the pits (and Kevin and I were in the booth) was informative and interesting but not too technical. You always hear somebody talking about changes to a car (ride height, camber, wedge) but it’s never explained what those changes really do, and it was good TV from a couple of guys who know what they’re talking about.

Q: As the American novelist Kurt Vonnegut once said, “In this country, you get what you pay for.” Nothing could be truer when it comes to NBCSN’s IndyCar Pass. Yes, we used to have a live video stream on YouTube, and yes, we had the IMS radio network audio, but the contrast couldn’t be more stark. In past years, the audio was completely disconnected from the video, there was no timing and scoring overlay and there was no audio during driver interviews. Now we have a genuine, professionally-produced broadcast with plenty of information, both digital and with interviews, and coordinated audio and video. For me, watching a race without first seeing practice and qualifying is like reading a book, but starting with the last chapter. IndyCar Pass fills that void.

Now, allow me to offer a few suggestions. Get that Peacock Pit Box and set it up at a key point on the course at every race. Jon and youself were terrific in it at St. Pete. And I like how you guys switched up with Kevin and yourself in the booth at COTA. Maybe Marty and Kelli in the booth, and Leigh doing the interviews. And during the weekdays, it would be awesome to have a recap/preview/interview show. Nothing fancy; just some analysis, banter and speculation. Great work and keep it up!

Don Davis, Chardon, Ohio

RM: Appreciate the feedback, and kudos Don, the idea was to make NBC Gold a full-blown TV show on the internet. That Pit Box belongs to NASCAR and we just borrowed it for St. Pete, although we get to use it again at Long Beach and Indy. It’s a nice change of pace, and easy on old people’s legs.

Patrick doesn't race anymore, but her ability to elicit opinion apparently remains as strong as ever. Image by Levitt/LAT

Q: The new NBC Sports Gold package is worth every penny. High quality broadcast of every session, and on-demand access as soon as the live viewing is over. I don't understand why people are complaining so much about it. The TV access we have is the same as it has been, with the exception of the network races on NBC instead of ABC. Cable races are the same place they have been for a decade already. I think the people complaining about the Gold package and the $50 fee need to realize they are doing more damage than good. I'm sure it sounds quite appealing to potential sponsors when the fans are loudly stating that a $50 purchase is out of their price range. What they hear is the fans are cheap bastards and aren't going to benefit us, so why bother? I get it, not everyone has the extra money. But at some point, you have to realize you might not be the target demographic for potential sponsors, and your actions are damaging the sport you claim to love.

If you want to complain about something TV-related, complain about Danica joining the 500 broadcast. Can we get a Danica-free stream on the Gold package, please? She ruined the last Champ Car telecast. I have still not forgiven her. No broadcasting skills. Um, well, can we at least get Parker Johnstone on the telecast? He is broadcast gold, and has a perfect vocabulary.

Paul in Ellenton, FL

Q: What is your take on The Captain looking for a guaranteed position for full-timers? I have great respect for the man, but surely disagree with him on this! It would seem to dilute the already watered-down qualifying, at least in my mind. While I’m at it, I agree with you regarding the whining going on regarding the television fiasco. It’s time to realize that times change and the days of freebies have ended. IndyCar is worth supporting, and I’ll continue to do so. I hope you continue to feel better and you’re in my prayers. Only 67 days to go!

Rand from Michigan

RM: If there are only 34-35 cars I said start them all, and I understand guaranteeing your regulars a place in the biggest race of the year. You think NASCAR would run Daytona without Kyle Busch, or F1 would run Monaco without Lewis Hamilton? Sure, back in the day when there were 50-60 cars going for 33 spots, making the show was as dramatic as the race many Mays, and R.P. missing with both cars in 1995 still stands as the most amazing day in IMS qualifying history. But those days are long gone, and when last place pays $200,000 (a third of the field gets that paltry sum) what’s the big deal about sending one or two cars home? Do you think last year’s race was better because Hinch wasn’t in it? I get that bumping is a part of Indy’s tradition, and qualifying for Indianapolis always held a much higher stature than making any other race in the world, but let’s be sensible in this sponsor-challenged world. Guaranteeing your 24 full-timers a spot today is good business, and it isn’t like 24/9 back in the IRL days because that was open warfare. If we have 36-37 cars this year then fine, some people won’t make it and the agony of missing the show will be televised on NBC.

Q: Great to see you looking well on NBCSN again! Hey, how can the self-proclaimed “greatest drivers in the world” in NASCAR have professional-looking starts and IndyCar drivers can’t do the same? We need standing starts or discipline from IndyCar officials. The start at St. Petersburg is just the latest, and I’m sure COTA will be next. Year after year, race after race.

Donald McElvain, Polson, Montana

RM: NASCAR starts are at least 50-70 mph slower so they should be able to stay lined up, but I didn’t see anything wrong with St. Pete – I thought it was a good start and Rosenqvist managed to jump into second. I’d prefer a standing start at Long Beach and Toronto to get everyone on the same patch of ground, because coming off a tight turn is always going to string people out.

Q: A couple weeks ago you commented on IndyCar prize money. I was more than shocked at the $30K first place money – really? By comparison, the LPGA women's professional golf series money for an average event pays $200-250k for first and 10th place money is $30k. The LPGA isn't a TV ratings blockbuster, and the money pales to the men who are at $1 million-plus first-place money for every tournament. Thirty thousand to win? Man, that sounds like tow money support given the $1 million-plus to run a race. What gives? Is the TV viewership for IndyCar that small?

CD, Beer Hill, PA

RM: If you get the pole and led the most laps I think you can make $50,000, but the problem is that the Leader’s Circle takes most of the purse money and IndyCar hasn’t found a way to replenish it, so the mechanics really get screwed, as do drivers racing for a percentage. The Indy 500 purse has been the same for a decade, and when you see a driver get a check for $400,000 at the banquet, just remember that $200,000 goes right to the car owner for the LC payment.

Q: Regarding Ryley Weir’s question in the March 20th Mailbag about sponsorship, I have a question for you and the other NBC broadcast folks. One thing that I have always noticed about IndyCar broadcasts over the years is that the announcers seldom mention the sponsors of the cars. (Unlike NASCAR in its heyday where you always heard them refer to the “No. 24 Dupont/ Pepsi Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon in Turn 2.” I quit watching NASCAR a couple of years ago so I'm not sure if they still adhere to this.)

In IndyCar the most prevalent sponsor-reference seems to be tied to the intro of the in-car cameras at the beginning of the race. Given that IndyCar, and the individual team sponsors, now have a much higher profile on the NBC platform, wouldn’t it make sense to promote the team sponsors just a bit by referencing them when pointing out the performance of the driver? It might spur those sponsors to put some ads on the NBC platforms, or even entice some new ones to join the series. It also would have the benefit of helping new, casual fans of open-wheel lock onto the car during the telecast by referring to them by their paint scheme, like “…running fifth, Bourdais, in the Sealmaster Honda…”. Seems to be a synergistic no-brainer to me.

Royal Richardson, Chester, NH

RM: I know we always try to give every driver a little love during the broadcast and showing the car’s signage is part of that, but naming the sponsor ad nauseam is too much like the driver reeling off all his sponsors before he answers a question. That’s almost insulting. I guess one mention a race would be OK, but I don’t know that it makes or breaks any deals. Target got a lot of exposure with Zanardi and Montoya, but mostly because they won so many races and led so many laps, and Target had national TV commercials. Not because announcers referred to the Target car. I get your message, but I don’t see it happening.

To be fair, Al Jr. wasn't the first (or last) person to clash horns with Patrick Head. Image by LAT

Q: Watching the 1990 season online. Heard reference to rumors of Al Unser Jr. nearly going to F1 (not for the last time). Just how close was he to leaving CART? Love that time period.

John Langeler

RM: Let’s revisit a story from veteran writer Gordon Kirby:

“Al Jr. tested for a few days with Williams in Portugal in '92 and had a seat fitting at Benetton before rejecting Benetton boss Tom Walkinshaw's offer of less than half the money he was making in Indy cars. "I tested with Williams for a week in Portugal,” recalled Unser. “Frank was giving me the indication that he truly wanted me, but from the time I landed Patrick Head was just rude." Unser was half a second quicker than Riccardo Patrese and Damon Hill and flew back to England to talk terms. "We went into Frank's office and I said, 'Let's do a deal.' And he said, 'We were only interested in you. We never said anything about having you as a driver.' Patrick was sitting there and he just instantly stood up and said, 'Time to go.' He walked me to the door and shut the door behind me. And that was it.”

Q: Just a reminder to all your readers that The Mario Exhibit at the IMS Museum will be open for the month of May and all summer celebrating his 50th Anniversary of his 1969 victory. Do you see any drivers of today that can be rivals and push open-wheel like Mario and Super Tex did in the '60s and '70s?

Steve Cooper, Lebanon, IN

RM: I think we were hoping Rossi and Wickens, but maybe Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward since they’re still teenagers and will be around for the next 20 years. But we don’t have the temperaments today we had with A.J. and Mario. Foyt was the king who ruled by intimidation, and Mario was the upstart that banged wheels, so there was an instant rivalry. Neither backed down or backed off the throttle.

Q: Years ago in Formula 1, journalists covering the series got together and selected winners for the 'Prix Orange' and the 'Prix Lemon', to be awarded to the driver and track organization that was the best and the least cooperative and friendly with the media. Taciturn, grumpy Jody Scheckter won the Lemon several years running, for example. Which drivers and tracks would win these awards in today's IndyCar series?

A Jenkins, Ontario

RM: Not really many candidates today since everyone gets along pretty well. People might think Seabass but he’s just brutally honest, not unfriendly or anti-media. As a matter of fact he’s become downright entertaining since starting his videos on RACER with Marshall Pruett (The Hamburger and French Fry Show).

Q: Just by chance I looked at my TV schedule and noticed that the IndyCar race from COTA is being carried live by one of the SportsNet channels that I get in my regular SportsNet package. No need to pay for an extra channel. I’m on Videotron here in Quebec. Don’t know how this is in the rest of Canada or on other providers. Thought you might pass this on to your readers.

David Young

RM: Thanks David.

Q: Sorry to read you've been taking heat from north of the border regarding IndyCar's broadcast rights dealings with Canadian TV and cable outlets. It's unfortunate that better, less costly options don't exist. But it's clear that pay per view is on the rise everywhere, including the USA. Perhaps your Canadian Mailbaggers can harness their energy to encourage and promote IndyCar races in Quebec and Ontario. What's needed to host IndyCar at the Montreal F1 circuit, Mosport, or St. Jovite? There might even be a Canadian Forces air base near a population center, or close to major highways that would be willing to host a race weekend, like a ‘Cleveland of the north’! Watching IndyCar on TV is great, but attending a race takes your senses to a whole other level, as you well know. I hope our Canadian neighbors can help get another race or two on the schedule.

David, Pittsburgh

RM: No worries, I can take a punch (or a slap from A.J.), and like I’ve said, I wish the Canadian fans could have their old system back or at least be able to get NBC Gold for $50. As far as Canadian races, I think Montreal could be back in play by 2021, and I loved St. Jovite when Champ Car went there, but Mosport is reportedly too dangerous for IndyCars. And I think Calgary still has a heartbeat.

Q: When you hear the phrase “paradigm shift” it is not necessarily going to be your day. It normally means that you’re going to make less money, pay more or get less of something than you were used to. IMHO, race broadcasts have never been so good. NBC (and before them FOX) have delivered better and better coverage of motorsports over the last few years. However (here’s the ouch) broadcasting is changing to more pay content in order to reach more specialized markets. Those of us who love motorsports seem to be a dwindling number. Somebody has to pay for the talent and technology that brings our sport to us in 1080P or 4K splendor. So, can we stop the whining? Canadians: Canadian broadcasting sucks on so many levels (relax, I’m a Canuck too). I resent that protectionism results in most Canadians being stuck with Bell or Rogers. Quit bitching about Miles, and go after your lame-ass cable providers. Not to mention your politicians.

Brian Bristo, London, Ontario

RM: Thanks for a different Canadian perspective Brian, and your observations.

Q: The way these IndyCars drift and slide around the track makes it apparent we should get Formula Drift paddock in more rounds with IndyCar.

Kevin, Long Beach, CA

RM: When Kevin Kalkhoven first brought them to Long Beach it was entertaining – for about five laps – and then I got bored. I’d much rather see Robby Gordon’s truck series and so would the fans, at least judging by the response when Matty Brab and the boys start bumping and jumping.

Q: With IndyCar looking to grow, what new tracks could be added? I live in Cleveland and on the last NBC Gold practice from COTA you talked about dream tracks. You mentioned Cleveland. Do you ever believe Cleveland will come back? I, regardless, would travel to Mid-Ohio. There are a lot of IndyCar fans in Cleveland, and sponsors. In Cleveland you have Lincoln Electric and Progressive. IndyCar needs to be at 20 races also to get new teams and sponsors.

Rich

RM: Like I said last week on NBC Gold, there was no better show for the fans than Burke Lakefront Airport, but unless some major company steps up to sponsor, it’s not going to happen, and nobody is pursuing it to my knowledge.

Q: Why are the IndyCar end-plate race numbers now so small?

David Fox

RM: There is very little room, and that’s not a good excuse, but it’s a reality. And it’s difficult to see the numbers on TV or at the track, so it’s a problem that needs to be addressed.