Robin Miller's Mailbag for April 24, 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: I have been reading postings on other sites about guaranteed spots, one which had a link to a certain local newspaper. All I hear from you is crickets. Also seems most viewer/spectators hate the idea, including me. Go fast and don't crash. That how racers get into a race. That's tradition. Hint, hint, many viewers/spectators will head for the exits if this happens. Someone telling you folks what to think?

Jim, Ft. Pierce, FL

RM: Yeah Jim, I don’t make a move unless I get my orders from Chip and R.P. Then I write my story and send it for their approval before we can publish it. Been that way for 51 years. I wrote a story last May with Bobby Rahal wondering if it was time to guarantee starting spots for full-timers and I’ll weigh in next month, but you aren’t going to want to hear what I have to say. And don’t give me that crap about how racers get into Indy. Remember 1997? Oh that’s right, Nissan was going to miss the show so IMS/IRL had to give them two spots so we started 35. Or those years when all you needed was a car and four laps at any speed and you were in the show. Yeah, that’s tradition.

Q: So Roger, Chip and Michael are scared that one of their drivers might not make the Top 33? Give me a break. Does IndyCar really want to venture down the 25/8 road again? Hey R.P., Chip, Michael, this is not what the majority of fans want, and when you keep pushing away an already fragile and niche fanbase, you won't have to worry about a series or guaranteed spots because there won't be a one to worry about these kind of things. Grow up, race, stop being politicians and focus on the big picture you big whiners.

Hutch, PA

RM: If the fans are so passionate about this “tradition” then how come no more than 5,000 show up for qualifying?

Q: So, is it kind of ironic when Tony George started the IRL, he locked in 24 positions for the full-time teams for the Indy 500. Back then, everyone bitched and moaned about it. Now, all of a sudden the big dogs want to see that happen. TG took a pounding when the IRL started, but personally I thought it was a great move to reward the full-time teams for the 500 and trying to lower the cost of IndyCar. Maybe, just maybe, TG wasn’t as stupid has everyone thought!

Brian Lancaster, West Lafayette

RM: The IRL’s 25/8 edict was a weapon of war, and TG figured CART would cave and at least show up for one of the two races to earn points because there was no way they would miss the Indianapolis 500. Of course they staged a race in Michigan instead, and the month of May took a beating in attendance, ticket sales and credibility that took more than a decade to recover from. You can call that smart if you like, but open-wheel will never get back to what it was in 1993-95.

Q: I read about R.P. and Chip saying that full-timers should be locked in to the Indy 500. I personally agree with them, mainly because Indy is a championship race like all the others, but it stupidly pays double-points. So if a driver who's in with a shout misses the show like Hinch did last year, their season is unnecessarily derailed because they've effectively missed two races. What's your view on their comments?

Jordan, Warwickshire, UK

RM: Obviously the Big 3 aren’t going to miss the show unless something freaky happens, and that’s always a possibility with just one day of qualifying. I’ve got no problem guaranteeing the 22 full-timers a spot, and there can still be bumping. I said start 'em all when there were 34 and 35 cars. Who cares? It pays $200,000. And I hate double-points at Indy and the season finale. But the bottom line is that this isn’t 1965 or 1995, and we don’t have 50 cars going for 33 spots. Amazingly we have 22 full-time cars in a series that pays squat, and Indy’s traditions were trampled a long time ago, so why not protect the key players? We’re trying to get people to watch the races, and sending a couple of big names home does what?

Team owners like Roger Penske believe full-timers should get guaranteed spots on the Indy 500 grid. Mailbag readers like Bill from Vista argue otherwise... Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: There is quite a storm brewing on social media over "the Big 3" advocating series regulars get guaranteed spots in the 500. Mr. Ganassi himself told me to calm down, that the owners are just discussing ideas. I am opposed to this idea and feel that it is rather hypocritical that at least two of the big three owners fought the 25/8 rule in 1996, boycotted the 500 and went on to race their own race over Memorial Day in Michigan (I applauded them for doing it!). I also feel that when I hear people say they "deserve" something, I think of participation trophies, orange slices and juice boxes. Nobody deserves anything. What happened to hard work, and if you fail, come back stronger next time like Penske, and more recently, ASPM? What's the answer? Add more cars? Then there goes bump day. Your take, please...

Bill, Vista, CA

RM: Well, good news, Bill, you’re in the majority of the fans who have written this week. For a few Mays we had Fill Day instead of Bump Day because IndyCar had to scramble to find 33 cars. It didn’t affect the race, but suddenly it’s Armageddon because we’ve got a couple extra cars and people are talking about guaranteeing spots for 22 full-timers. As difficult as it is to find sponsorships these days for a full season, race fans need to focus on what’s important – and that’s not whether 14 drivers are going for 11 spots, it’s trying to keep IndyCar’s line-up intact and grow it. We lose a couple of teams, and you don’t have to worry about bumping.

Q: I guess let’s throw in the Andrettis to the group of fools. These owners, who do not care about fans, make it tough to be one. Wish Indy was just a standalone race at this point. Let the series die if these are people keeping it afloat.

Jake M.

RM: Let the series die, hmmm, now that’s a progressive thought. And Michael Andretti is the reason we still have Indy Lights and full-time Americans in IndyCar.

Q: Will we ever see qualifying races replace four-lap single-car runs for Indianapolis 500 qualifying? It might encourage more entrants, draw a larger crowd and help spice up the month of May. I understand tradition is important at the Speedway, but they race Indy Lights there and built a road course. Everything changes.

Geoff Eighinger, Ashland, OH

RM: The qualifying tradition at Indianapolis died in 1996 but the only way to have something like you’re proposing would be big money for a qualifying race. And since the Indy 500 purse has been the same, lame number for a decade, I wouldn’t count on it.

Q: I am 22 and became an IndyCar fan in 2007, so I never got to experience the magic of Bump Days in earlier years. But man do I love the drama that is created, even if car counts aren’t what they once were. I am absolutely appalled with Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti lobbying for locked-in entries at the Indy 500. Let me quickly bring up two Bump Days from the last 10 years.

2010: Tony Kanaan crashed twice on qualifying weekend, and just 90 minutes from the gun was still 3mph too slow in his backup car before making it. Takuma Sato didn't get in until 20 minutes remained on an edgy run, and Mario Romancini had the guts to withdraw from the bubble and requalify to get himself safely in the field. Two of those are now 500 champions. Full-timer Milka Duno DNQ'ed.

2011: Alex Lloyd pulled off a miracle run with less than 10 minutes to go to get the Dale Coyne No. 19 in the show. Full-time cars that failed to qualify included James Jakes and Sebastian Saavedra.

Here are four examples of full-time drivers that cut it close but made it, and they received great publicity for their efforts. From a fan’s perspective, they delivered a highly entertaining, pressure-packed session with real stakes.

Furthermore, look at those three full-time entrants I listed who missed the race. Guaranteeing these teams in would be a disgrace, when in both years there were clearly more deserving, more competitive teams at IMS. I vehemently oppose this idea, and I hope the fan base is vocal enough that it doesn’t come to pass. And one more thing, if Penske and Ganassi with their mega budgets can’t make the Top 33 of the 36 cars expected this year, they should absolutely pack up and go home with their tails between their legs.

David, Daytona Beach, FL

RM: Like I said earlier, I think their concern is being caught out by something sinister and not having time to recover since it’s only one day of qualifying, But who is to say you still can’t have drama going for the last three spots regardless of whether 22 full-timers are guaranteed a spot?

Q: OK Robin, time to see how you feel about tradition at Indy. Just read Indy Star article and Mark Miles' comments on possible changes to guarantee entries to owners (Penske, Andretti, Ganassi). I was optimistic in that he said it didn't run off sponsors like Arrow last year when Hinchcliffe failed to get in. Penske and Rahal never left the sport, either. Now is not the time to do a 25-8 rule from IRL days. Let the fastest 33 and only 33 battle it out. What do you think, my friend? Have you gotten too close to the owners? They could make that argument any and every year. The sport is strong; don't cave and water it down.

Love the Andretti livery dayglo '69 Mario look. That and orange McLarens again… I am in heaven. Now qualify your way in like real racers do.

Crag Bailey, Palm Bay, FL

RM: I think we got lucky that Arrow took such a pragmatic view of the situation, because there is no guarantee other big sponsors would have reacted accordingly. Miller and Marlboro didn’t leave because CART was big at that time and sponsors were rolling in money. But please don’t preach to me about tradition. You mean nine chances each day to qualify instead of three for the whole month? Or run the same speed as one engine manufacturer and be granted a spot? You mean one day of qualifying instead of four? Too close to the owners? Don’t insult my intelligence.

Could the IndyCar Series and the Indy 500 survive without each other? Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: With all the talk of the fastest 33, the battle once again comes between the 500 and IndyCar itself. The 500 would still exist if IndyCar folded. Period. We've seen it before. We've been here before. IndyCar wouldn't exist without the 500, not the other way around. There's enough interest in the race itself for it to continue; even if it wouldn't be in the same form (same cars, etc.). I do understand the position of Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti. The 500 is part of the IndyCar calendar and it sucks to have one-offs that don't bother with any of the other races and come in to crash the party; potentially knocking out a series regular. Those three teams put more into the series than anyone else.

But if IndyCar is a legitimate series with top talent, then they should be ready to compete against anyone that wants to jump in and run with them. For a series longing to see more interest and more entries, why shut out the possibility for growth? I get it; you want your top stars to be in the biggest race on the calendar. But at the end of the day, you want the best driver/team/car to be in the race. Otherwise it just isn't right. I know times have changed, but at a moment where you have more interest in the race... you want to squash it?

Robert Brown

RM: There is no battle -- one needs the other. Where, pray tell, are the cars and engines going to come from if IndyCar goes away? And you made a pretty good argument for the owners who will comprise a third of the field. You think F1 would run Monaco without Lewis Hamilton? Or Daytona would go green without Kyle Busch? Of course not -- it’s a business nowadays, kids, and has been for a long time. Nobody is building a car in their garage or engine out of a school bus, and a serious effort at Indy isn’t going to be stifled whether there are 33 or 11 spots.

Q: Robin, I'm 68 years old, been a sprint, midget, IndyCar fan all my life and my dad was as well as my son. What I'm writing about is the 25/8 rule. I think because you are around the Big 3 all year, you’re not thinking about the little guy that doesn't have the mega bucks, but brings the new ideas to racing. Or the short-track drivers that will never get a chance to prove their worth. I bet you could tell me tons of stories about great drivers that never got the chance at Indy. Please reconsider your stand on this rule that is for the big owners and not the fans. We love racing, and love it when a no-name makes the big show.

William F. Cody

RM: With all due respect Mr. Cody, there hasn’t been a little guy with a new idea at IMS since Ken Hamilton, John Buttera and some of the cowboys in the '80s. And a midget and sprint car driver isn’t going to get a chance at Indy unless he’s got money. It has nothing to do with talent or getting an opportunity or whether spots are guaranteed. And, again, this is not the 25/8 rule – that was TG’s leverage in The Split, and this is about protecting the longtime owners that keep IndyCar going.

Q: Wow Robin, I never thought you would be in favor of guaranteed spots for the 500! Why don't we just give every driver in the race a Baby Borg for participating in The Greatest Spectacle in Racing? If this goes through, all the progress that's been made over the last 11 years since the merger will be gone, along with the fans.

Steve Hunt, Chino Hills, CA

RM: Really, so those 50,000 who show up every May for Bump Day will be gone? What if they couldn’t have fielded 33 cars a few years ago? Padlock the place? There has been progress in the past decade, but mostly in the past few years with Jay Frye’s plan and some new car owners. Every major sport tries to protect its owners’ investments, so why is IndyCar wrong to consider it?

Q: So like a lot of us old-timers, I wish qualifying at the 500 would go back to what it was, and I am not a fan of the convoluted procedures of the last decade. But the realist in me understands that we can't go back to the past, so I will do my best to embrace the current format. I've got two ideas about how I'd modify things: 1) Change the Last Row Shootout to the Last Nine Shootout. See, it rhymes with Fast Nine and it gets more cars involved in bumping. 2) I am definitely not in favor of guaranteed starting spots, but I could see throwing the owners a bone. Any full-time entrant (meaning car, not driver) earns a second extra qualifying attempt to get into the 10-30 qualifying spots on Sunday before the Last Row Shootout, should they want to take it. That would give the full-timers an entire night to get their act together for one last attempt. Let's call it the Lost And Middling Entitled 23, or the LAME 23 Shootout for short. Think it'll catch on?

Tim Elder

RM: It’s never coming back like the ’60s-’70s-’80s-early ’90s, so what’s wrong with this year’s format? NBC will televise the battle for the last row and front row, and Jay Frye did away with that ridiculous Saturday/Sunday running. We don’t need any more bells and whistles.

Q: So the full-time owners want guaranteed spots at Indy? Fine, here’s a solution. If you’re full-time but not one of the 33 qualifiers, you can still race, but you have to watch the first two laps from your pit box. It’s a win-win: tradition is preserved with only the fastest 33 taking the green flag, but the full-time teams and sponsors can still participate (albeit with a two-lap penalty – not to mention added publicity), and the drama of bumping is retained. Is this enough of a compromise to make everyone happy?

Kevin, Fishers, IN

RM: Of course not, race fans are never happy, but the caveat would be if you start in the pits and come back to win and earn a $5 million bonus. Dream on.

Hinchcliffe's misfortune on Bump Day last year provided a wake-up call for the full-timers, but not making the cut was also painful even if Indy was your only race for the year. Image by LAT

Q: Why keep Indy 500 qualifying real? In the last 25 years, name the years that are embedded in 500 fans brains? Two are shocking and sad to some – 1995 and 2018. One was complete BS – 1996? Is there any other year that you will never forget??

Joe from Indy

RM: Sure, in 1960 Jim Hurtubise came within a whisker of 150mph, then Parnelli broke that barrier in 1962 and Tom Sneva’s 200mph run in 1977 was loud and memorable. Jan Opperman, John Mahler, Tom Bigelow, Rich Vogler, Jerry Sneva and Bob Harkey hanging their ass out in the closing minutes to make the show is what qualifying use to be about.

Q: I was having a lunch to today with the most avid IndyCar fan I know. We spoke of Penske/Ganassi promoting guaranteed entrants to the Indy 500. Both of us were adamant the fastest 33 qualifiers should be the race. The spirit of the race is what us fans turn up to see. Bad press is still good press – ask Hinch. We both hypothetically questioned ourselves, if a street/road course had more entrants than pit stalls or garages spaces available at a given circuit, how would IndyCar determine whom races? Do you know?

Shane D.

RM: Probably go with qualifying times. I think the last time it happened was on the oval at Nazareth and one of Roger Penske’s cars with Andre Ribeiro was too slow and got sent home.

Q: I believe that full-time entries need to have protection for the Indy 500.  That being said, it's a Catch-22 because this year eight of those teams are directly entering or leasing extra cars to third parties. If they didn't do that, there would be no bumping. They are not doing so out of the goodness of their hearts, either. The prices they are charging are supposedly higher than ever. Well, if those teams want protection, I'm sorry but they need to write that into the extra entry contracts they have with their partners. IMO, the prudent move last year was to replace an uncompetitive Howard with Hinch, not bump some other team's car, for instance. That should be the rule going forward. If, say, Rosenqvist misses it, his entry deserves protection. 

On the Pocono subject, I'm very confused. The event reaches fans from Maryland to Massachusetts, and if IndyCar loses it, a huge swath of fans like me will be forced to drive huge lengths or worse, fly, to get to see the series. Moreover, despite follow the leader races of late, tragic accidents, and some bad weather, the crowd has incrementally grown! Unless ABC Supply is leaving, I just don't understand why Frye/Miles would ditch the only Northeast race they have. Richmond is not a replacement, as it's probably easier for most of us to get to Ohio or Detroit. It's also a total unknown. Watkins Glen seems unlikely as well, plus there is zero shot I'd drive out there during a Cup double-header as the hotel rates will be astronomical.

Greg from Belleville, NJ

PS: Any update on Bobby Unser/Parnelli traveling to Indy?  Last time I asked you said yes, but then saw you write that they are iffy.

RM: In the past there have been instances of drivers who are bumped from a multi-car team being reinstated because of a tire company’s wishes or a sponsor contract, but as you stated, it’s only because full-timers RLL, ECR, Andretti, SPM and Penske are running extra cars that there will be an excess to allow bumping. So it’s simple, the extras aren’t locked in. As for Pocono, it’s not been very well attended but they jam three big races into a couple months, so maybe it stays in the 2020 double-header experiment. Richmond drew well, albeit with help from Marlboro freebies, but staged some exciting races the first couple years. Rufus and Bobby are coming.

Q: NBC Gold is the best 50 bucks I ever spent, and in my opinion, no guaranteed spots for the Indy 500. Compete, or go home.

Brad, Bloomington, IN

RM: Duly noted, Brad.

Q: I just read your article regarding real (bigger) comeback stories in sports. I, too, was thinking along these lines when the experts were calling Tiger's win the greatest comeback in sports – the motorsports fan in me was thinking of much bigger comebacks than Tiger Woods'. I think this one could be added to your list, Ernie Irvan's comeback after suffering a head injury at MIS that nearly took his life. Amazingly he survived, raced in the truck series, made it back to Cup, and went on to win at MIS, the track that nearly claimed his life. One helluva comeback. I'm not really a NASCAR fan, but that was incredible.

Craig C., Slinger, WI (home of the world's fastest 1/4 mile)

RM: Good call, I liked Ernie because he was a battler with a good sense of humor and he made it all the way back. Ditto for Mark Dismore, who I somehow forgot in that story. His comeback was epic.

Q: I enjoyed watching Tiger's comeback, and enjoyed reading about the racing comebacks just as much. I'm sure there are many others to choose from, but two omissions from your list that come to mind: Sebastien Bourdais' big crash at Indy, which led to a fractured hip and pelvis, with his return to on-track competition that year, and a win at St. Pete the following season. Rick Mears' crash at Sanair, which led to both his feet getting crushed, with his return to the track the following year, several wins over the next seven years, two more wins in the 500, and a road course win at Laguna Seca. And one more addition I can't wait to see: Wickens back in a car Great article, thanks for the list!

Chris Rafferty, Western Springs, IL

RM: Tiger’s comeback resonated with the TV viewers and will undoubtedly be the sports story of 2019, but racing comebacks are a different breed. Seb’s was mighty impressive, and I remembered to add Rick just after RACER published my story (how could I forget him?) but lots of brave men just getting back to work.

Money and/or family connections can help a young driver, but manufacturers tend to prioritize talent when it comes to factory seats – like Mercedes did with Robert Wickens. Image by Trienitz/LAT

Q: No one has been able to answer my question regarding drivers in their teens to early 20s getting factory rides in sports cars, NASCAR, IndyCar, etc. How do such young drivers get the attention of Audi, Porsche, Mercedes, Ford, Chevrolet, any factory team or even factory-connected teams? My assumption is that Austin Cindric, Graham Rahal, Marco Andretti, Colton Herta and their equivalent, while being talented in their own right, have an "in" via their genealogy. Their dads at least know the ropes, and therefore can direct their kids along a path whether they provide large funding or not.

However, how does a Parker Chase or Trent Hindman get exposure to top-level rides? Yes, they all start in karts or quarter midgets or some beginner class at 10, 12, or 14 years old, and yes, they likely win a championship or two. But how does an 18-year-old, as talented as he/she may be, get a full season factory IMSA ride (for example) in the GTD class and even get sufficient experience to demonstrate enough talent to be rated Gold such as Madison Snow (yes, his parents are deeply involved in racing, but you get my point)? Is it all about parent's money? If so, how does a parent approach a major a manufacturer or team? Do they hire an agent? Do agents advertise their services? Or do manufacturers and major teams have periodic "cattle call" tryouts at which these young kids just show up?

Really, I'm curious how this works today. My guess is that for every late-teen to early-20s driver that gets noticed and subsequently hired, there are dozens more that may have also won championships at the entry level, even contemporaries to those have "made it," that haven't even been noticed. What is the fundamental difference between the "haves" and "have nots?”

Ron N

RM: You answered your own question. Of course a son of a racer is going to have a leg up if he choses to pursue a career. Graham Hill and Damon, Jack Brabham and Geoff and David, Jos Verstappen and Max, the Pettys, Earnhardts, Elliotts, Andrettis, Unsers, etc. Colton Herta got a head start but he’s delivering, and the best example right now of a young talent with no connections that’s going to make it is Pato O’Ward. Money is the great equalizer, find some and you can keep advancing. Or Kyle Larson and Chris Bell. They didn’t come from money, but their talent is undeniable and Ganassi and Gibbs were smart enough to snap them up.

Q: Here’s a hypothetical situation. If we were able to take the top cars (with their drivers/teams) from the 1996 Indy 500, where qualifying and race laps speeds surpassed 236 mph, and race them in this year’s 500; how do you think they would fair against the 2019 cars?

Mike M.

RM: Probably pretty good, since they had more horsepower and downforce.

Q: So, in two months, NBC has done more for IndyCar than ABC did in their history. I’ve seen cross-promotion with their soccer coverage, with NFL football, NHL, The Today Show, The Tonight Show, commercials, an actress from NBC Show Brooklyn Nine Nine in the two-seater at Long Beach! Two months! Awesome!

Vincent Martinez, South Pasadena, CA

RM: No surprise, and it’s going to get better. I think The TODAY Show will be at Indy the Thursday and Friday before the race.

Q: Why can’t the IndyCar officials do a better job of the start of the race? The cars are all strung out instead of being lined up. Maybe a standing start is the answer.

Chuck, Youngstown, Ohio

RM: Not sure which race you are referring to, but they were jammed on top of each other at Barber, got about five or six rows together at Long Beach and St. Pete was fine. Can’t recall COTA but I think the starts have been pretty decent so far in 2019.

Q: The greatest month of the year is quickly approaching – nothing is better than living in downtown Indy throughout the month of May!

While reading your Mailbag last week about tobacco money getting forced out by the FDA. I have a question: who was the last person to run a full sponsorship from a tobacco company, and the last to run a full sponsorship with a beer/alcohol company?

Michael S. Indianapolis, IN

RM: I imagine either Barry Green with KOOL or Gerald Forsythe with Player’s, and Ed Carpenter has run Fuzzy's colors in the last few years.

Q: How many IndyCar events let kids in free?  I just ordered my tickets for Iowa, and instead of $30 grandstand seats I purchased a $50 grandstand seat since my son is free. When I pulled up to buy my three-day pass at Mid Ohio last year my son was free. Two years ago when I did the Indy Grand Prix, my son was free. I never think to look for these things, so they’re a nice and welcome surprise. It wouldn’t be a bad idea if IndyCar had a prominent link on their site promoting all the family friendly access available at their races. Weather permitting, I’ll take my son to the Grand Prix and he gets to skip school to go to the free Prix day in Detroit. This is awesome.

Ryan in West Michigan

RM: I have no idea, but I do think many tracks let kids 12 and under in free if accompanied by a ticket-holding adult, and it’s good to hear about Iowa and Mid-Ohio and the free day in Detroit. That’s how you make young fans.

Aldo (far left) leans in as his brother gives the victory interview to Bill Marvel after A.J. Foyt last his brakes while leading the 1966 Hoosier Hundred. Image by Gene Crucean

Q: Having read about Mario’s 50th anniversary of winning the 500 got me thinking about his identical twin brother Aldo (who doesn’t look identical now due to facial reconstruction after a bad wreck), and what might have been. It sounds like Aldo was as fast as Mario at the beginning, but had a head injury that left him in a brief coma the first year they were racing. I don’t know how much you know about Aldo, but it makes me wonder if fortunes had been a little different, is it possible Aldo could have had a career as amazing as Mario’s? What does Mario think?

Bary Berger

RM: My late HS buddy and former USAC racer Danny Milburn stooged for Aldo when he was running sprinters in the ’60s and he had a couple nasty accidents, one that ended his career. But Mario always said he had talent, just never got a big break and ran with it. A delightful fella, you never heard Aldo ever complain about his fate.

Q: Robin, what are your favorite racing books? Would appreciate any suggestions on IndyCar, drivers, IMS, tracks, eras, rivalries, etc.

David F.

RM: Black Noon, Against Death & Time, Vukovich, Lone Wolf and Foyt, Andretti and Petty would be a good start.

Q: Is there any more to read into Mr Forsythe being at Long Beach? First race in 12 years has me thinking about a few different scenarios. Can you refresh my memory on why he has been MIA? Would be nice to get him on board again as a team owner.

Ron, Toronto

RM: When IRL and Champ Car merged, Gerry bowed out. He felt like he’d lost the war (when in fact open-wheel had lost to NASCAR) and wanted nothing more to do with racing. He kept his shop forever and we always thought maybe he’d at least try Indy again, but he said at Long Beach he’s got no plans to return.

Q: I’ve written to you a couple of times at the beginning of the last two seasons asking whether or not Gerald Forsythe has shown any interest in returning to IndyCar. Both times the answer has been that the Forsythe ship has sailed and it isn’t coming back. However, during the NBC LBGP broadcast, and in your April 15 RACER.com story about the Long Beach ballpark issue, you mentioned that Gerald was in attendance at the LBGP, which was his first IndyCar race in 12 years. To me, even though he co-owns the LBGP, the mere fact that he finally attended was a very positive sign and a giant step in the right direction for Gerald. Outside of his co-ownership, was there something or someone that motivated him to finally attend a race? In speaking with Gerald, did you get the sense that he may finally be warming up to a possible return to IndyCar?

James Jackson, Livonia, MI

RM: Not at all. He co-owns the event with Kevin Kalkhoven and said Jim Michaelian had been on him to attend, so he decided to show up. He’s 80 and looks great, but didn’t seem to miss racing at all.

Q: I’ll start by saying COTA did a wonderful job hosting IndyCar. Plenty of concessions, traffic was well directed, and the schedule was nicely packaged. (Also those Stadium Trucks were a riot!) I’ve attended every major race since the track opened, and every year they’ve made infrastructure improvements. With each race there’s a new sidewalk, an entrance, permanent restroom facilities etc. I hope they’ve earned their spot in the IndyCar calendar for years to come.

For those wondering about a bundle for COTA’s races, they offer a package on Cyber Monday. It’s general admission for all the major races at COTA – F1, IndyCar, and MotoGP (I cannot remember if RallyCross is included) for somewhere in the neighborhood of $200. You can get the offer by signing up for their email list on the COTA website.

Jake, New York

RM: Thanks for that tip on Cyber Monday. All I know is that it was one of the best road races I’ve seen in 25 years, and I think IndyCar was happy. Not sure about COTA, but it’s a three-year deal.

Q: My wife and I have made the trip up to COTA for the F1 race three times, and went to the IndyCar race this year. We live in San Antonio, and make the 75-or-so minute drive up and back every day for race weekend because it's far less expensive than staying in Austin. Cost-wise, there's no comparison – for the price of just one three-day F1 grandstand ticket, for IndyCar we got three grandstand tickets, three paddock passes, and three days parking.

In terms of racing action for the price, there was no comparison. While the support races for F1 have been getting less interesting over the years (especially with the loss of the Masters F1 series), the Stadium Trucks came for the IndyCar race and I'll be damned if everyone in the stands didn't have a silly grin while watching them. The biggest difference crowd-wise is in numbers and interest level. There were far fewer people in the IndyCar crowd (which made getting around far easier), but I saw an awful lot of F1 gear in the stands for the IndyCar race, so I think there is a fair bit of crossover in the market. Also, I noticed far more people sticking around all day/every day, as opposed to the F1 crowd who tends to show up just as qualifying begins on Saturday, and just as the green flag waves on Sunday.

We're planning to go back up in November for the USGP again, but frankly we had more fun at the IndyCar race. It's kind of like the difference between The Godfather and GoodFellas – The Godfather may be the pinnacle of film, but GoodFellas is just a lot more engaging and fun to watch. Hopefully COTA made off well enough to bring it back next year. Granted, this is just my "butt dyno"/anecdotal data, and your mileage may vary, but the COTA experience brought this lapsed IndyCar fan from CART days back into the fold.

Jason Smith, San Antonio, Texas

RM: Appreciate the scouting report, I’d just love to know how many fans showed up from Austin for each event? We went downtown and nobody knew anything about the IndyCar race, and I was talking to some folks from Missouri who said they could drive, stay in a hotel and watch the IndyCar race cheaper than a three-day F1 ticket. It just seems like different crowds, but maybe there’s some crossover.

Q: I found it amusing that some fans are concerned about Mike Tirico leading the NBC team for the Indy 500 broadcast. I'm listening to him call only his second NHL game (my Islanders sweeping the Penguins in round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs) and I'm convinced the man can call any sport well from the first event. He obviously does his pregame prep and he's probably spent a lot of time with Doc Emrick to iron out the finer points for his hockey stint. I'm sure he'll not disappoint. He has a good voice for sports. NBC is doing a phenomenal job this year, from the on-air talent (even you, Miller) to the camera folks, production truck peeps, and all the other folks that contribute (I'm looking at you production assistants and interns) to make the broadcasts happen.

Mike Weisbecker

RM: There is a reason he’s the face of NBC Sports, and it’s because he’s so damn good and versatile. I too watched his NHL debut and he sounded like he’d been doing it for 20 years. I think he’ll really embrace Indy and be very comfortable.

It's probably a bit of a stretch to think that IndyCar would be on Ricciardo's radar at the moment. Of course, if things don't improve with Renault in the next couple of years... Image by Hone/LAT

Q: In all my 21 years, I’ve been a die-hard IndyCar fan, and nothing has changed. However this year, after seeing the F1 Netflix series, I decided to watch it and give it a go. Daniel Ricciardo would be amazing to have in IndyCar. I think teams need to start thinking about him when his deal with Renault is up after 2020, which happens to be aligning with the new engine package coming the following year. He is a killer driver and wants to be a winner. Not to mention he has a very good personality and is very liked worldwide. Unless some major changes happen, there will still be 2.5 good teams on the F1 grid (.5 being Red Bull), and unless one of the seats at Ferrari or Mercedes opens, he’s not getting a better seat. In your opinion, what are the odds we see him either try Indy, or come here full-time in 2021?

Ben from Noblesville

RM: Have no idea if he’s ever entertained the thought of IndyCars or ovals, but he would have to take a massive pay cut, and I’d say the odds are slim we’ll ever see him.

Q: The past few weeks, some people have been saying that having Danica Patrick and Dale Jr. on the Indy 500 broadcast is a bad thing. While I get that some folks may not like them for one reason or another, I think it helps raise the profile of the event and draw new fans in. The first Indy 500 I watched in full was in 2006, when Rusty Wallace was on the broadcast crew. Some folks didn't care much for his skills in the booth, but he was the driver I followed in NASCAR, so I made sure I watched the race. All these years later I watch every IndyCar race (thanks to NBC Gold) and I've been to a few in person. The point is, any popular personality will introduce new fans to the sport, even if they aren't so good in the booth. Just my glass-half full take on how became an IndyCar fan.

P.S. Bring back NH, I'll be there.

Kyle in MA

RM: Dale’s podcast has over a million listeners, and I have no doubt he will bring new fans to the Indy telecast. Rusty called it the Daytona 500 a couple times, but he was a big name – just like Danica, whether you agree or not. But I think Junior will be the draw.

Q: I recall an interview Danica gave last fall in which she said the IndyCar paddock has a lot of posers, fronters, and fakes. Ouch! That’s kind of personal. I wonder, when Danica’s doing face-to-face interviews with IndyCar drivers in May, how will she be regarded? I mean, it’s hard to imagine RHR, Dixon, Power, and TK (to name only a few of the very hardworking and pretty straightforward drivers in the IndyCar paddock) taking that lightly. Or, who knows, maybe it’s just water under the bridge. What do you think, will that interview linger?

Bert C. Reiser

RM: I remember when she said that, and I thought, ‘Where did that come from?’ Not sure how much interaction she’ll have with the drivers next month, but they’re all pretty classy so I doubt they’ll be anything but cooperative with Miss P.

Q: Since the IndyCar visit to COTA, there have been comparisons to F1 in your Mailbag. I have been a fan of both series for over 50 years. However, there currently is no comparison. IndyCar may be slower, it may be spec, but it is competitive and interesting. I have watched little F1 over the past few years. While he is a great driver, I'm tired of Lewis Hamilton winning most races and championships. I DVR the qualifying and races, but I check the results before I watch. If it is another Hamilton win, I delete.

Bruce Kerr, Philadelphia

RM: The best thing about IndyCar, besides the competition, is that you don’t know who is going to win the pole or the race, and that should make people want to watch.

Q: I grew up in Wisconsin in the ’80s/’90s and the Indy 500 was pretty much the only non-NASCAR race I made a point to watch. I didn't appreciate road racing until IndyCar became my favorite series (around 10 years ago). Still, street races were the toughest sell. It didn't click with me until my wife and I escaped the cold to visit St. Pete in 2017. We had an absolute blast all weekend. Paddock passes and grid access on race day. Non-stop action on the track. It felt like a big event, and we were right in the middle of it. Several people we met said, "You think this is cool, you should see Long Beach."

When we got home and cranked up the DVR we found that the race was fairly ho-hum from the couch. Long story short, don't knock street races until you've tried it (including you mid-western oval fans). They are part of a balanced racing diet. In terms of TV, I think the key to street races is to go heavier on the on-board cameras. I like to see just how fast and bumpy those courses are. You can really see the drivers work! There was a lot of it on NBC, which I liked.

John Z.

RM: I guess the easiest way to describe the differences: ovals and road courses are more pure racing, while street races are a show or an event built around a day of cars, trucks and vintage cars.

Q: Nice column, but honestly, I think the only loyalty the decision makers are going to have it to the money that will come from a new baseball stadium. After the most recent race, which was exceedingly boring to watch on television, IndyCar had better come up with some ideas to prevent that from happening again, or who will care? If the stadium does come to pass, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the race will go away. A new track layout might be possible.

Doug Mayer, Revelstoke, BC, Canada

RM: Like I wrote, it terms of making money for the city, a baseball stadium is a no-brainer because it’s around all year and also has concerts, etc. I asked Jim Michaelian if he had explored an alternative site, and he said he didn’t want to go there yet because he needed more information on the whole process. But it would be a crushing blow for IndyCar to lose Long Beach.

Q: In regards to IndyCar's (endless) search for international races to start the season, has any consideration been given to Adelaide? The Supercars run their race there on the first weekend in March, so it would not have the scheduling issues Surfers has. It is arguably a way better circuit than the current Surfers layout. There is open-wheel history there – not IndyCar, but fans did turn out for it. Most important, we get a round back in Australia to capitalize on the successes of Power and Dixon. Has there been any promoter interest?

Dennis C., Streamwood, IL

RM: Not to my knowledge, just Surfers at the moment, but IndyCar has to reduce its price to have a shot.