Robin Miller's Mailbag for April 3, 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: First off we are all glad that you are better. Are there any updates on how John Andretti is doing? Second, to all the people complaining about what has happened because of red and/or yellow flags and what might have happened, I have a simple quote from my childhood: “Coulda, woulda, didn't” – Dick Grayson. These procedures have been in place more than long enough for everyone in IndyCar to be familiar with them. It is sad that great drivers and teams were caught out by the yellow and red flags, but these were all self-inflicted wounds. In qualifying, the teams know a red flag at the wrong time could kill their session, but they chose to sit in the pit lane and let the clock run out. No-one forced them to sit there and wait until the last second to go out to try and make a lap.

Both Penske and Andretti Autosport have decades of experience and have been racing in IndyCar full-time since well before the rule closing the pits at the beginning of a safety car was implemented. They knew the risks. And to the people who say it would have been different if they left the pits open during that yellow at the end, my question is, how? Have Penske or Andretti developed some kind of hovercraft system that would have let the cars fly over the crash scene and first responders? I know some people are upset about how things played out, but changing the rules would just reward the same kind of foolishness and arrogance that led to The Split.

Haskell, Victoria, TX

RM: Thanks for your logical letter. Yes, you nailed it, be it qualifying or the race, these teams had an opportunity to either go out or pit and chose not to so they got burned. You felt bad for Power and Rossi but they simply followed a game plan that turned out to be flawed. Talked to John last week and his cancer has returned, but he’s still fighting and looking for an alternative program with help from Mario.

Q: I've been an Indy fan for decades, and I've seen the improvement from speed limits in the pits – that's fine. Then we started closing pits when a yellow comes out. I do not recall the rationale, but I believe it is to allow the pace car to pick up the field before the pits are open. I just attended the IndyCar at COTA, and we all know how closing the pits on the last yellow messed up several drivers and teams that did not deserve it. Rossi in particular was royally baked, while Herta and Newgarden benefitted from unknowingly pitting a lap before the yellow. I was delighted to see those two finish one-two, but I don't think they deserved it. What is the reason for closing the pits? Can it be accomplished with some other alternative? And is it worth lousing up races?

Phil McKown, Nashville, IN

RM: As I wrote last week, USAC began bunching up the field and closing the pits in the late '70s because it was having difficulty scoring the races. With the advent of superspeedways and street courses it became a safety issue, and despite an attempt to opening the pits a few years ago, the competitors opted to go back to closing the pits. In a situation like COTA, the leaders could have been spared by simply pitting when the window opened.

Q: It's too bad when drivers are caught out during qualifying by late reds. I agree with the penalties for causing a red, but those caught out should be given at least one out lap to warm their tires and a flying lap. Or if there is more time on the clock, restart with the remaining time at the moment of the incident. I could see well-qualified teams sending out a lesser car to cause a red in order to keep the pole or other good grid position. I hope that IndyCar will take a serious look at that, regardless of remaining TV time left in the program. We'll find out how qualifying finished during the pre-race broadcast. Good teams shouldn't be penalized for someone else's mistake.

Charley Goddard, the geezer in Muncie

RM: IndyCar used to guarantee so many minutes of green flag time but now the only session with guaranteed time is the Fast 6 so maybe that's something IndyCar needs to revisit.

Q: I agree with Will Power. This yellow flag, pit-closing crapshoot is bull feathers. Rossi's and his chance to win were over when that late yellow came out. Here's my idea to maybe mitigate it. About 200 yards before pit-in, paint a three-foot wide line across the track. This is the "pit open" line. When an incident happens on track, here's the procedure: Yellow flag. All cars slow to safer speed. No passing. Pits close. Only when the lead car passes the "pit open" line, the pits then open, and the leader gets 200 yards to decide to be the first to pit, followed by any others. The pace car picks up the leading car at pit-out, and bunches the field then. This protocol allows lead cars, who have built up substantial gaps over short pitting rivals, an opportunity to pit under yellow and maintain their running order, while allowing for safe accident cleanup, and closing up the field for a restart. Sure, this needs tweaked, and drivers will try to cheat and game it, but that's why there are stewards and penalties then need to be called. The yellow flag in racing should be a wild card, not a soccer red card. Comments?

Tim in Ohio

RM: Nobody wants to see anyone’s race ruined by an untimely yellow flag but it’s happened for decades with or without closed pits, and as our reader from Texas said in an earlier letter, nobody is to blame but those two teams for leaving their drivers out.

Will Power has a lot of fans, and none of them were happy with the way the yellows played out at COTA. Image by IndyCar

Q: Is it me, or does Will Power have the worst luck? He leads the whole race then gets caught out by a full-course yellow, and then his car breaks during a poor stop. What's IndyCar's thinking on closed pits during full course yellows anyways? It totally screws the leaders, and helps the mid-pack guys running on different strategies. It should be the fastest driver wins.

Sean S., Arvada, CO

RM: He’s certainly had more than his share of the Yellow Plague, but it really didn’t matter this time because his car broke down. And Herta wasn’t a mid-pack guy, BTW.

Q: When is IndyCar going to stop manipulating the results of a race by continuing with the caution rules? When a caution is called, every driver’s position at that moment should be locked until restart. Even if Power had made it out of the pits, he would have been where Rossi ended up. The final results of the race are not accurate. I watched the entire race, and there is no way the final results reflect what actually happened. Power and Rossi (and at times Herta) were driving away from the field. No challengers. They drove so well they could stay out longer. What is the reward? A random caution takes away all the work they did, and shuffles them back in the field. Right before the caution I was explaining to my two sons that if a caution happens anytime soon, Power, Rossi and Herta will get screwed. I sure sounded like a racing genius when it happened. Power was correct – if the crankshaft had not gotten him, the yellow would have. Hey IndyCar, let's catch up to all the other series and change this caution nonsense.

Pete in Austin, Will Power fan

RM: I think everyone hates to see a race decided by a caution, but I also know that all the IndyCar teams know the rules and the consequences. That’s why it made no sense to leave Will and Alex out and tempt fate when pitting would have been logical. And IndyCar isn’t the only series that closes the pits on a yellow flag.

Q: What a great race at COTA. I mean, it wasn’t the suspenseful ‘who’s going to win it in the last three turns’ but damn, it had a bit of everything – good clean racing, and some great moves. I cannot be happier, our series is back. Just a comment regarding pit closures – why on earth do we still do that? Are we not the only series that does this? It seems like a driver should be able to get to the pits whenever he needs to. Isn’t there a safety component to this? Got my tickets to Long Beach. Been to every race since 1980!

B. Davison

RM: NASCAR and IMSA do the same thing, and yes, safety is the major reason.

Q: It seems inexplicable that IndyCar hangs onto the rule that closes pits upon a yellow. Will Power’s comments after his mechanical failure were spot-on. The rule throws away hard work and turns the race outcome into a lottery. Colton Herta drove a fine race, but he won only because of the misfortune of Power and Rossi due to this rule. While Power couldn’t return to the track, Rossi did, entering in 13th position after running second before the yellow. At St. Pete, the insane rule that keeps the clock running during a red flag in qualifying turned into a massive disservice to some drivers and the fans. Both of these rules need to be changed. They are killing my interest in IndyCar.

Dale Murray, Mount Joy, PA

RM: As I’ve stated a few times lately, IndyCar tried opening the pits in 2013 and some of 2014, but the teams bitched about ruining strategy so closed pits were re-instituted. And repeat after me, Penske and Andretti knew the risk by not pitting when the window opened, so who do you blame?

Q: Really enjoyed the COTA race, looked like a good turnout and great atmosphere overall.  And of course congrats to Colton! A new era of IndyCar has truly arrived. I'm certain I won't be the only one to once again complain about that stupid close-the-pits-on-yellow rule, but with the accident happening at the entrance of pit lane, wouldn't the pits most likely have been closed anyway for safety reasons? I'm thinking the drivers were screwed rule or no rule in this case?

Douglas Cole, Portland, OR

RM: I’m thinking you are spot-on.

Q: Another IndyCar race ruined by the full-course caution lottery. At the end of the day, in my opinion the results are not real, they are contrived. Herta gets the win. Did he earn it? Maybe, but without a true fight with Rossi we will never know. In what is the supposedly top tier of American racing, a team’s race strategy shouldn’t include a fear of catching a full course caution. Closing the pits during full course cautions is another bad idea that IndyCar can’t get away from, just like double points and not stopping the clock when there is red flag during qualifying. These are NASCAR-type gimmicks.

I know you have stated that IndyCar is looking into fixing qualifying, but how long does that take? I know you like to badmouth F1, but a couple of seasons ago they revamped qualifying. It was a disaster, the fans hated it and it only lasted two races before they changed it back. Power said in an interview that this is the only top series that closes the pits for cautions and it needs to change. I couldn’t agree more. Every time this happens and the results are completely skewed it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. When the yellow came out and I knew Power and Rossi were going to get screwed, I almost felt like turning the TV off. But at the end of the season IndyCar gets to claim how they had "nine different winners." What they won’t tell you is three of those winners wouldn’t have even finished in the top 10 except they pitted a lap prior to a full course caution and got lucky.

I am always hoping that IndyCar would fix these things and become a better series than F1, but they seem incapable. It really makes them seem less professional than F1, which is shame for the teams and drivers because the on-track product is better.

Dave, Vineland, NJ

RM: I guess, depending on your perspective, it was ruined for Rossi, but certainly not for Herta, and holding off Newgarden seemed pretty badass to me. And I’m tired of writing this, but knowing the rules, Penske and Andretti still chose to roll the dice after their pit window opened up. Harding/Steinbrenner didn’t. Is it right? No. Is it pure racing? Of course not, but it’s the rules and it’s not like it’s anything new. As for qualifying, the schedule dictates the allotted time and, again, who is to blame if you sit around for five minutes and then don’t get a lap? When qualifying goes green it’s a helluva show and it doesn’t need to be revamped, but maybe tweaked to guarantee one flying lap for everyone.

Newer IndyCar team owners like Mike Shank are in it for the long haul. Image by Levitt/LAT

Q: A few years ago you lamented that IndyCar didn’t have enough car owners. How do you feel now with more owners in the paddock?

Paul Fitzgerald

RM: Pleasantly surprised, would be my answer. It wasn’t long ago we had three owners (Andretti, Ganassi, Penske) fielding more than half the field, but now we’ve got Trevor Carlin, Mike Harding, George Michael Steinbrenner, Mike Shank and Ricardo Juncos with Brian Belardi in the wings. And they’re all guys that seem intent on sticking around.

Q: Great racing at COTA!  Good to see youth prevail. I hope this is not a fluke for Herta and his team. Also, enjoyed the broadcast. Glad ABC is finally gone. Going to Barber for the weekend. What is the racing like there? Is it as good as COTA?

Danny Wampler

RM: Considering it was a track built for motorcycles, Barber has been a very pleasant surprise for IndyCar. The racing has been damn good (Pagenaud and Rahal in 2016 was as good as it gets) but it’s going to be tough to ever have a road course with more action than COTA.

Q: Having a U.S. driver was never a priority for Haas F1. Well... I would say this: That is twice that Gene and Guenther lost out to bring one. Alexander Rossi, and now Colton Herta. And by looking at Colton's track record, four straight years he finished in the top three in every ladder series (third in British Formula 4 in 2015, third in the Euro Formula in 2016, third in Indy Lights in 2017, and second in Lights in 2018). I recall when Bryan tested out a Minardi back 16 years ago, and not even a backmarker would take him. Before making his transition to Indy Lights, did Haas F1 ever thought about bringing Colton into their development program and send him to what is now FIA Formula 3?

JLS, Chicago, IL

RM: To be honest I doubt if Haas even knew Herta existed, and the bottom line is that F1 doesn’t want or need an American driver. And we can ask Rossi, but why would anyone want to leave a competitive environment where you can win races and make decent money to go to F1 where you might get lucky and drive a car that could finish 10th on a good day?

Q: Hey RM, glad to see you looking so healthy. Not necessarily good, but healthy. Am I just a crusty old fart, or did anyone else find it a little strange to hear Colton Herta refer to the mechanics as the "boys"?  Speaking of boys, Colton drove one hell of a race! Also, I wish you would hurry up and write that book, I ain't getting any younger either!

Kendall Brumbaugh, Elkins, WV

RM: It was funny to hear an 18-year-old say that, but it seems to be the new term for your pit crew. I never look good but I do feel good, thanks. If I write a book, based on the past few weeks of letters, it may be called: “Bitch, Bitch, Bitch.”

Josh R., Salem, OR

RM: There are no finer people than Janette and Bryan Herta, and they are the least pushy parents (at any level) that I know who are proud of their son but yet stay in the background. They gave him opportunities, for sure, but let him fend for himself in Europe and that really helped his maturation. Colton has that same respectful, humble personality of his father, which will serve him well during the next two decades.

However many people showed up at COTA, the consensus seems to be that IndyCar's first visit to Austin was a success. Image by IndyCar

Q: I think a good nickname for Colton Herta is “Hert So Good.” You may know the Mellencamp song “Hurts So Good.” With Mellencamp being a long-time Indy fan, perhaps IndyCar could cheaply license his song for an ad about Herta.

Andrew H., Chicago

RM: Sounds like a one-hit wonder.

Q: It's 2:45 a.m. and I'm awake with a head cold that's giving me toothaches. Counting my blessings it's not steroids or chemo. If Mr. Pfanner goes for the contest you suggested, here's a short list of nicknames for Colton Herta. Because he looked a little like outlaw William Bonney in the cowboy hat, "Colton the Kid." KC ( for "Kid Colton." Like a lightweight boxer or an outlaw.) "Forza Bambino" (If only he drove a pinstriped No. 3 car , or the road gray...) Or, my twisted favorite, "Baby Shark" (Do, duh, Dit- dit -dit-duh dit-dit-dit...) You’re welcome, IndyCar fans! Try getting that out of your heads!

Your favorite NYC tour guide!

David P., Jersey City, NJ

RM: Pfanner hasn’t signed off on our contest, but I like Kid Colton. Now get some sleep.

Q: How about: "Joltin Colton"? Remember "Joltin" Jud Larson?

Jan Burden

RM: I do, but maybe we use pinstripes on the car and honor Joltin Joe DiMaggio.

Q: Just spitballin’ here… how about ‘Colt 45’, or ‘Mohawk Herta’?

Wright Hugus III, Highlands Ranch, CO

RM: If the Mohawk returns, a hat must be worn at all times out of the car.

Q: After reading your March 27 Mailbag, I have a nickname for Colton Herta: Boltin’ Colton. In all seriousness, what a fantastic race COTA was. I sure hope the Harding/Steinbrenner team gets a sponsor because we need Herta racing for many years to come. I’ve been telling everyone that will listen that they have to watch IndyCar. The NBC Sports Gold package is worth it. So glad to watch the whole weekend commercial-free (although I wish the on-demand for the race would just show the side-by-side instead of that “we’ll be back shortly” message).

James Liddicote

RM: I told Mike Harding if this storyline doesn’t get him a sponsor then he needs to get some new people to find him money.

Q: OK Robin, why is it when an oval race draws 25 to 35k everybody says nobody cares or shows up. But at road courses we draw 30k, and everybody says wow, what a decent crowd! So the oval crowd continues to get screwed! Well I am no mathematician, but 30k is 30k, so why can't we get more ovals?

D. Owen

RM: I believe I wrote a column a few years ago that said we need to get realistic and that 25,000 at an oval race is a good crowd (and I think Gateway gets more) because for whatever reason, ovals are a tough draw and finding promoters willing to take a chance isn’t easy. Road and street courses are IndyCar’s bread and butter and maybe it’s because of the day-long racing and/or the camping for the weekend, but Road America, Mid-Ohio, Portland and Long Beach are big draws, and COTA was encouraging.

Q: You've said before oval races probably don't make a profit. But what about the temporary street courses? Isn't it a huge expense to shut down city streets to run these events?

Paul, Portland, OR

RM: It most certainly is, but when you can get the city to be your partner or share some expenses or help with promotion (or all three), it gives the promoter a running start. And having an annual title sponsor like Honda, Firestone, Acura and Chevrolet gives the promoter a leg up, while Bommarito Auto Group (Gateway) and ABC Supply (Pocono) have been the only constants for ovals lately. Surfers Paradise use to draw massive crowds in the CART days but lost millions of dollars, and Baltimore supposedly suffered the same fate.

Q: Unless the driver is on a fuel-saving stint, I cannot understand why they end the race with push-to-pass seconds still available? Even if it does not help with an immediate pass of someone, you never know when being 2-3 seconds closer to the leaders might come in handy?

Mike in Texas

RM: Can’t answer that one Mike, except that maybe if a driver is locked in and fighting for a spot, he simply forgets.

Q: Due to work travel, I had to record the race at COTA. When I watched it, the intense racing, bold moves, great saves, and super in-car camera shots got me out of my chair and standing up to watch the end. This is remarkable, since I had already read just about all of the post-race reports and knew exactly how events would unfold, who would win, and who would not. It was that good!

Bob Carmon, Cleveland, TN

RM: Good to hear, Bob. I seldom watch reruns but I wanted to see if COTA was as good as people were saying, and it was one of the best road races I’ve seen in 51 years.

Q: A few COTA observations from a long time IndyCar fan, displaced in the Republic of Texas. I bought three-day GA passes; a first time visitor to COTA. The facility is world-class. No wonder why F1 and MotoGP call it their U.S. home. Add elevation change and associated observation points that give a great view of much of 3.4 miles, and it’s a fans’ paradise. Austin is a one-of-a-kind town, and the track is minutes away. Thus, a great place to enjoy a world-class town during race weekend.

The $95 three-day GA ticket is an unbelievable value. Not sure if the 30k attendance numbers included the GA fans on the Turn 1 grass, but there were 5k in that turn-alone. The Muse concert on Sat PM, was worth $95 on its own, and likely 15k-20k attended. Like the Snake Pit concerts during Indy, I appreciate IndyCar’s marketing initiatives to bring in young fans. My advice: it works, keep doing it. Like myself, lots of boomer parents enjoying the concert with their adult kids.

The open pit Friday and open track Sunday sessions were a hit with we fans. Thanks COTA and IndyCar for providing the opportunity and perspective. Drivers are accessible, and for the most part, friendly and approachable. During the open track session at the end of the race, Sato hung around for pics with fans; classy on his part and appreciated by the fans. My clan and I are already planning to go back next year. I hope over time that the IndyCar Classic becomes a perennial favorite like Long Beach.

Boiler in Texas

PS: I swear I’m not employed by the Austin chamber, IndyCar, nor COTA.

RM: I’m sending your letter to the COTA folks because it’s always good to hear from satisfied fans. I had heard conflicting stories about prices ($600 for a single suite seat or $100 for the top row of a grandstand) so it’s good to know that $95 got you a three-day GA. Looked like plenty of great places to walk around and there was plenty of action. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Kanaan still has a mission to complete for A.J. Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: As a fellow old-school fan with a picture of Harlan Fengler on the den wall, I have to ask what's up with Tony Kanaan and car 14? I hope every race day for a competitive finish from the Foyt team. I was so excited for T.K. last year at Indy until the tire failure. Are the years catching up with T.K. as they do for all of us?

Ron Carbaugh, Eaton, Ohio

RM: After talking to T.K. and Conor Daly, it’s apparent A.J.’s team is way behind in the shock/damper area and that’s the most crucial element of today’s IndyCars. I think Scott Harner was brought in to help update this program but it’s not going to happen overnight. Like TK said at COTA, “I’m not Scott Dixon, but I’m also not three seconds slower than he is.” The good thing is that Eric Cowdin and T.K. were dialed in last May and should be a factor again next month, and that’s all A.J. and ABC really care about.

Q: Loved the COTA race! Great track and event, I am now a huge Colton Herta fan. I hope people don't discredit the win because of the yellow situation, he definitely earned that win – he did great all day, did great on the restart, and Newgarden couldn't touch him in the last 10 laps. You always ignore my question about Tony Kanaan, but can you help me understand his longevity in the sport? I know he brings money, but so does Charlie Kimball, etc.

Geoff B.

RM: Besides being a former champ, Indy winner and the most popular driver in IndyCar, T.K. is beloved by sponsors and still fast at Indianapolis, so that might explain why he’s still got a ride. And he doesn’t have it because he brings money. He’s obviously not a factor in road racing right now, but still a contender at Indy and the ovals, and that’s all A.J. is concerned with, and he wants T.K. to try and help elevate this team if possible.

Q: First time/longtime and glad you are well. Saw you at the paddock at COTA along with an endless amount of owners, drivers, crew from IndyCar. I bet you could beat P.T. in the 40. Been to about 15 races in my life, mostly PIR (RIP), Indy 500, Long Beach, Fontana, and man was COTA awesome and worth the trip. We had Main Grandstand passes and ditched them after qualifying when we found the grass in Turn 1.  What a view!  Live bands, Happy Hour at 5 p.m. on Saturday night, Stadium Super Trucks, etc. etc. etc. Any track that is struggling should take some notes. COTA is the real deal!

Todd French

RM: Thanks Todd, interesting you left the grandstands for the grass but I saw a lot of folks in that area. P.T. is a sprinter so I doubt I could beat him.

Q: I really enjoyed the race from Austin. IndyCar put on a good show. Do you think COTA made money on the event? The crowd looked decent and the sanction fee had to be a pittance compared to what F1 gets.

Rick Navratil

RM: I would have to know what kind of sanction fee IndyCar charged, but I assume it was reasonable since this was their first venture together. If there were 30,000 paying customers than I would imagine it could have turned a profit. I know they could have made more money had they not limited their paddock passes.

Q: My dad and I had a pretty good time at the COTA race weekend. I bought grandstand tickets through a presale and paddock passes, which for the price I assumed were also pit passes. Ends up the paddock passes only got you into the IndyCar paddock (everything else including Lights and Stadium Trucks was otherwise accessible without it), and pit pass wristbands were not included. I was a bit upset but got to meet and interact with a few drivers and others – got a selfie with Graham and P.T., so not complaining. Next year I think they need to work on their pit and paddock pass allotments. Otherwise it was a fantastic weekend, at a party Saturday night we got to meet Mario and Colton Herta and get their autographs, which ended up being a big deal after all. I hope IndyCar and COTA make this work, there was a big GA attendance but don’t know what the final numbers ended up being.

Brian M, Katy, TX

RM: I have no idea why they limited paddock pass sales, because that place is enormous and could have had 5,000 people walking around easily. I guess with F1 they never had to deal with paddock passes, but one of IndyCar’s drawing cards is access. I sent your letter to Bobby Epstein so hopefully he’ll respond and I’ll share with you.

Q: Just to point out that ABC doesn't give one lick for our brand of racing, ESPN had the COTA race listed as the "2019 Grand Prix of Boston." Spot-on boys. To think, confusing the great capital of Texas with some place I think in New Jersey. Jeez.

Steven and Kris Boydstun, Texas

RM: Now why doesn’t that surprise me?

Q: By my count, there are currently 33 driver/car combinations on the entry list for this year's Indianapolis 500. What drivers are actively searching for rides for this year's race? What teams are still possibilities for entering additional cars?

Bobby Krevda

RM: Oriol Servia, J.R. Hildebrand and Jay Howard should be announced soon, and I think we’ll end up with 37 car/driver combinations.

The steely stare of a man unafraid to say no to Roger Penske. Image by IndyCar

Q: I normally wouldn’t dare to question your expertise in the realm of IndyCar, but in your answer to Craig Bailey you said that not many have turned down Roger Penske; none you can think of? No one in recent memory? Not even Captain America in 2012? Ryan Hunter-Reay definitely turned The Captain down. Granted, he had a good reason to repay Michael for the second chance he got, but he definitely falls into the category of people who have said no.

Jason F.

RM: I emailed R.P. on Sunday night to refresh my memory and he said, yes they approached Hunter-Reay but he opted to stay with Michael Andretti. And while he may be the only driver in that category, RHR’s loyalty paid off because he went on to win Indianapolis and keep DHL as a sponsor. As a side note, I wrote that story back in 2012 but couldn’t remember it, so there’s a penalty when you’re almost 70.

Q: I just came back from the IndyCar COTA race this past weekend. One thing that struck me was how little time the drivers really spend in the car. Three practices and qualifying. What does that total, maybe four hours before the race? My question is how do the drivers stay sharp? It is just simulators? While racing in other series may help, it’s obviously not the same vehicle (IndyCar compared to another series vehicle). Or does that transfer to time in the cockpit of an IndyCar?

Lawrence, Sanford, FL

RM: Good observation. In the old days a driver might get four hot laps at the Hoosier Hundred and then have to qualify, but that was also back in the day when Parnelli, A.J., Dan, Mario, J.R. and the Unsers ran every weekend in sports cars, stockers, midgets, sprints and anything with four wheels. I’m always amazed IndyCar drivers aren’t rustier after a six-month layoff, and that’s why Kyle Larson and Chris Bell are throwbacks and sharp as hell – they race every available chance. IndyCar drivers work out hard at PitFit and spend a lot of time on simulators, but there’s nothing like the real thing to stay on top of things.

Q: It seems like every ad break I see has one of those "Honda Dream Garage Spring Sales Event" commercials starring our own James Hinchcliffe. Honda is not only taking advantage of the most charismatic spokesperson they could ask for, but they're promoting IndyCar and a whole bunch of other racing series with the touring cars and trophy trucks in the background. Chevrolet, on the other hand, also appears in just about every ad break, but they just use the god-awful "real people, not actors" commercials where some people who are very clearly actors ogle over a bland SUV in the middle of a giant green-screened room. They've got their own charismatic and attractive IndyCar driver in Josef Newgarden and an even bigger racing property with NASCAR, but neither of those are anywhere to be found in Chevy's advertising. What gives?

Joey P.

RM: I guess it’s just how each chooses to market their product. Honda racing has always been visible on TV, in magazines and newspapers while Chevrolet opts not to use IndyCar as an advertising platform.

Q: I wanted to let your SoCal readers know that local Acura dealers are running a promotion now where if you come in for a test drive you get two tickets and two paddock passes for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Just pick what day you want to go either Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Pretty cool of Acura to do this, looks like they are stepping up big-time. See you there.

Steve Hunt, Chino Hills, CA

RM: Thanks for the info, Steve. Not surprising, Honda has been salivating to get Long Beach, and I expected them to blow it out and push Acura hard. Also a good way to try and make new fans.

Q: While I am not a huge fan of the halo in F1, I do not hate it either.  Most importantly, I appreciate the added safety it affords the drivers. I have read that the halo will not work in IndyCar due to visibility issues with the center support on ovals. Is there a reason that Indycar could not have a road course and oval course halo? Standard version as in F1 for road and street courses, and an asymmetric oval variant with the center support offset to the right to open up the view for left hand turns.

Joe C.

RM: All I’m going to say is be patient, something is on the horizon and may be unveiled next month.

Q: Now that NBC has control of the IndyCar Series, is it possible to see the Indy 500 go back to the original 11:00 a.m. start time? I personally would love to see it!

Brian Lancaster, West Lafayette, IN

RM: Very unlikely. Noon is good for the West Coast, and traffic flow seems to like it also.

And the Danica letters continue to roll in. Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: My question today is directed to my fellow IndyCar fans. Why are some of you unhappy because Danica Patrick will be part of the NBC 500 team? Love her or hate her, Danica was the biggest buzz IndyCar has seen in recent years. Remember the cheer when she took the lead in the 500? IndyCar needs more fans, and if she creates some that's OK with me.

Charlie Merz, Dallas, TX

RM: Danica is pretty polarizing and may have pissed off some people recently when she said that NASCAR drivers were more approachable than IndyCar drivers, but to your point, she still makes headlines and still gets people talking. And her Indy experiences give her a forum that you have to respect. I’ve always liked and defended her because she was a racer at Indy, Texas and Homestead where you have to have “big ovaries” (her phrase), and the racing world sat up and took notice.

Q: We have such good announcers in IndyCar! Diffey, Bell, Tracy etc. Did you hear them during the Pato O’Ward pass at COTA? They seem like they like it, like they want to be there, like they are on the edge of their seats; like Dale Jr. brings on NASCAR.  Thank goodness we don’t have the stupid boogity boogity boogity.

Mark Lamontia, Landenberg, PA

RM: They’re all fans, first and foremost, so I think that realty comes out in the broadcast (same for Little E) and adds to the show. If P.T. is impressed with a move then it’s authentic, and T. Bell was a brave boy behind the wheel as well, so their enthusiasm is genuine.

Q: Just curious: Why were the drivers allowed to exceed the track limits at COTA in Turn 19?

Mike C.. San Francisco, CA

RM: Because there was pavement laid down there?

Q: Watched the NBC Gold package coverage throughout the weekend, and I thought the coverage and commentary was great. Watched the COTA race with friends – we didn't know what to expect, but we are definitely sold. Do we do Texas Motor Speedway or COTA? We have been going to Elkhart Lake since they returned, and enjoy the camping aspect. We go to St. Louis because it's close to Indy, but want a higher banked oval. We have reservations about TMS for on-track activity throughout the weekend, though. How is the camping at COTA? What race should we attend in the future? Can you pass along to those drivers that are complaining about Turn 19 and want to reevaluate the track limits for next year that some of the fans enjoyed it from an entertainment perspective? Happy to see Harding Racing succeed. Hopefully we will be able to watch Pato and Colton battle it out this year.

Alex Hottel

RM: Camping looked spacious at COTA but my idea of roughing it is a Holiday Express without a bar (and I don’t drink), so I’m not a good judge of the outdoors. Because of COTA’s wide-open spaces, including Turn 19, it was one of the most entertaining road races ever staged in my opinion and I cannot understand the people moaning about exceeding the boundaries. What boundaries? It’s paved, so race on it.

Q: Not a criticism at all but, in the IndyCar, NASCAR and F1 races I watch, especially on the permanent road courses,  I always see the cars – especially in corners – go outside the white lines and well beyond the curbing. A lot of the tracks have large paved areas in the corners beyond the curbing and white line, and I always thought this was for safety.  But now it seems to be used for racing. Why is this allowed? Wouldn’t the racing be improved if the cars had to stay slow down and brake more heading into a corner in order to stay between the curbing and/or white lines? Or why not change the track to fit the racing line in these corners?

Steve, Chico, CA

RM: Can’t speak for NASCAR or F1, but IndyCar using all the track at COTA made for a great race and allowed all kinds of different lines to be taken – entering and exiting the corners. I get that the Alex Zanardi move at the Corkscrew would no longer be allowed but having a fast, wide road course like COTA invited great racing, and that’s what we got. How could we improve on that? Not by tightening the layout.

Q: First thing, I have to compliment NBC on their coverage so far this season.  I especially like having the running order on the left side of the screen, excellent improvement. This makes it is so easy to quickly glance over to see where the driver you are interested in stands in the field. Camera coverage also is great. I noticed at COTA the name of the driver was on the pavement at their pit, also nice for the viewer. Now I have a question about the race last weekend. I think Race Control was looking at the move Dixon made on I think it was Rahal (I could be wrong), but I didn't hear the outcome of that.  Also, was Race Control looking at Hinchliffe when he touched Rosenqvist near the pit entrance?

Steve Kaiser, Anthem, AZ

RM: Dixie rubbed wheels with Veach (a lap down) and no action was taken. Ditto for the Hinch-Felix scrum, it wasn’t nefarious – just looked like the Mayor got launched by a curb.

Q: Great show at COTA; loved seeing another Herta win again. I was a fan of Bryan’s ever since he drove for A.J., so it just naturally carries over to his son. I remember back in the day of IndyCar’s peak, Dan Gurney offered a challenge to F1 for a head-to-head race. This was back during the time when budgets were probably much more comparable. IndyCar had turbocharged 900 to 1000 hp engines at the time.

Was this back when USAC was still in charge, and wasn’t there the suggestion of like $1 million prize? Also, were the budgets comparable back then?

Tim B.

RM: Dan offered to run his 1972 Eagle against any F1 car in a match race, but there were no takers. There was the Questor GP at Ontario in 1971 that pitted F1 and Formula 5000 cars (won by Mario in a Ferrari) and dominated by F1 cars. The only other race I can think of was CART’s Hawaiian Super Prix, a pipe dream that offered $5 million to win and never turned a wheel in 1999. Budgets were a few hundred thousand dollars in the early ‘70s, but Indy cars had more power and F1 cars supposedly more grip, although DSG felt AAR’s pride and joy was equal if not better as aerodynamics came into play.

What does NASCAR's schedule change mean for IndyCar at Homestead? Not much. Image by Aleck/LAT

Q: Has IndyCar just been handed Homestead as a possible finale location thanks to NASCAR shuffling its schedule?

Steven Kent

RM: IndyCar talked about spring training at Homestead and a possible return to race there, but it all went quiet and I’ve never heard another word. But it was always a tough draw down there for IndyCar except when Marlboro, Honda and Toyota gave away tickets.

Q: As I recall, Ryan turned down RP when he signed his last contract with Michael, saying he was loyal to Michael for giving him a chance when others would not. Am I correct? Most cannot resist going to RP, like most recently, Josef. Cannot blame him for looking for what he thinks is best for him, but lose one percent and be toast like Simon [will be] soon. Think Carpenter will take him back and offer Josef the money left on the table to go with R.P.? No. I think Ryan did right for both he and Michael. I like reading your words.

Michael D.

RM: I don’t think Josef has any job security worries, and Pagenaud just needs a win to calm everyone down. RHR did turn RP down, but I’d say it’s worked out just fine.

Q: Longtime IndyCar fan and dedicated reader of the Mailbag here. Just got back the other day from COTA and looking forward to the rest of the season. Every week someone mentions Cleveland and when is it coming back; honestly I am shocked how much people actually want something to be in Ohio. I've attended the race and I fully agree that it needs to be back on the calendar. Seems like there is more than enough fan support.

Judging by the growing crowd size at Mid-Ohio each year, I think it would be a hit, especially since Cleveland is a hell of a lot better city and place to visit than it was back then. You say it all comes down to a title sponsor willing to pony up the cash. So what's the amount? Maybe if Mailbaggers knew what it would take, they could start spreading the word to those with the means. Seems like there are a lot of Ohio-based readers on here, and there has to be more than one company interested with the way IndyCar is growing and the interaction its receiving.

Eric, North Canton, OH

RM: I don’t have a number, but at least $750,000 and probably more when you talk about bringing in bleachers, walls, closing down Burke Lakefront for a weekend and security. It looked like Sherman/Williams might step up and bring the Cleveland race back a few years ago, but then they took their money to IMS. I have no doubt it could come back and be a success, but it takes a dedicated promoter, help from the city and a big-time title sponsor.

Q: So since it appears Sir Patrick and Frank are getting the band back together at Williams. Should we give Little Al a call and tell him they're ready for his tryout now?

Brad Haskin, Seattle, WA

RM: No, he was not a Patrick Head fan, and why would anyone with his experience be? Plus he enjoys working with Harding Racing, Brian Barnhart and being Colton Herta’s coach.

Q: Why the heck do these NASCAR drivers wear their sunglasses during interviews? Gil always removed them during an interview, Dixon makes it a point to remove them. The eyes are the windows to the soul. Someone needs to clue them in. What do you think? I hate to waste another therapy session on this topic!

David Palmer

RM: Good Lord I have no clue, except maybe they get paid extra.

Q: I am looking forward to NBC's coverage of the Indy 500. I know you guys will do a great job. Over the years you have gotten a lot of complaints about ABC's TV coverage of the Indy 500, but I figure the people writing you must not be old enough to remember when there was no TV coverage! Back in the day (the '60s), the only way I could enjoy the race was listen to Sid Collins' radio broadcasts, then scour all the newspapers the next day hoping to see pictures of the race. One year I paid $10 (a small fortune to a 10-year-old) to watch the race live at a movie theater. Picture wasn't very clear and the signal kept going black, but it was better than nothing.

Then ABC started showing a recap of the race on Wide World of Sports the Saturday after the race. That was great, maybe you saw 30 minutes of the actual race, mixed in with wrist wrestling from Petaluma, but of course I wanted more! Then it happened: ABC started showing the race, tape-delayed, in prime time. I remember praying that my VCR would record the entire race while I worked my night job. Qualifying shows, Uncle Bobby and Sam, my head is spinning when I think about!  Then came ESPN with all weekend qualifying shows and a live broadcast of the entire race on ABC! I was in heaven. A lot has changed since I was a kid, but one thing hasn't. My love of racing and especially the Indy 500. So to all of you guys that complain about ABC's "terrible" coverage over the years, I say to you: If it wasn't for ABC and their Wide World of Sports show getting the ball started, you wouldn't have the racing coverage we have today, and to Ryan in West Michigan (and other like him), put the tomatoes on a bacon burger and enjoy!

Michael, Las Vegas, NV

RM: I started using the phrase Always Bad Coverage in the IRL days mostly so I’m guilty, but when ABC had Jim McKay and Jackie Stewart it was big-time. Uncle Bobby, Sam and Paul Page were entertaining as hell before ABC told Bobby to quit correcting Posey and moved him into Turn 2. Then ABC started going through the motions and it really showed (Todd Harris and Rusty Wallace,) and NBC has already done more promoting for the Indy 500 and IndyCar series in two months than ABC did in 10 years. So I give ABC credit for putting Indy on the national TV map and keeping it there, but not doing more than the minimum for the past 25 years.