Robin Miller's Mailbag for June 19, 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 am a first-time writer to your Mailbag, although I have enjoyed following your raves and rants for several decades, especially back when you were with the Indy Star. I guess you can call me the Rip Van Winkle of IndyCar racing. The last race that I attended was Bourdais' win at Road America in 2007. I "fell asleep" after that. I won't get into the rants and rages on that, since you yourself were on the front line of that bloodbath. I turned fully to Formula 1 – fervently. But for the last five years or so, they too have done everything possible to bring on the Deep Sleep for me as far as that sport is concerned.

But recently, I did wake up, turned on the TV to actually watch an IndyCar race, and as I rubbed my eyes, I noticed, hey, I must have missed nothing! A highly competitive series, road and street courses, short and long ovals, an international cast of drivers with a good mix of American and Canadian drivers, a car that looks like a short evolution of the Panoz DP01 or the other cars of the early 2000s… so what happened? I would have thought this was all just a long dream until I watched the order to start engines at the Indy 500, and no, I guess it wasn't. Was it worth it? What was gained? What was lost? And is it worth my while to head back to my beloved Road America this weekend?

Wiscowerner, Cedar Grove, WI

RM: Welcome back. The Split did irreparable damage to open-wheel, but the last few years have sported some of the best and most competitive racing ever thanks to Dallara’s racy DW12, Firestone, the depth of the teams and Jay Frye and his staff at IndyCar. Road America remains the great American road course and I’d pay to go there.

Q: To clarify, when you buy any ticket at Road America for IndyCar it includes pit and paddock passes – the “camping wristband” is not needed. There is no weekend I look forward to in the entire year more than IndyCar at Road America. However, I must agree with "Justin in Indy" from last week's Mailbag. I camp there with my brother and the “camping wristband” charge is ridiculous.  I do feel the $100 early bird ticket is a great value if you go all three days.

Bob Rundgren, Villa Park

RM: Thanks Bob, it always seems like the paddock is packed and that’s a good policy to let people roam.

Q: I have been reading you since you started at the Indy Star. You have mellowed with age, as most of us do.  Your complaint about the Indy purse is on the money. The Star ran a graph of winner takes through the years and listed 1916 as the low mark with a payout of $238,337. Adjusted to 2019 buying power, that would be equivalent to $5.6 million. Pagenaud’s $2,669,529 was certainly well below this. I wonder how the fan cost compares. Can you find out what a ticket cost in 1916?

Kent S.

RM: In 1915 a ticket in Grandstand A went for $2.50 and today it costs $125. The Daytona 500 purse was over $19 million the last time NASCAR announced it, but the Indy 500 has been stuck on $13 million for a decade.

Big result, small purse. Image by IndyCar

Q: It looks like the future of IndyCar is going to be dominated by Rossi and Newgarden. I hope they don't become teammates in the future. It’s nice to see Chevy vs Honda and Andretti vs Penske. Who do these two remind you of from the old days? Great story on NASCAR and IndyCar sharing a weekend. I think it would benefit both. Time to put the feud away for these two series and grow motorsports as a whole. NBC could be the main driver for all of this.

Eric, London, OH

RM: I suppose Mears and Sneva on ovals and Little Al and Michael on road courses. NBC is interested, and that should be the impetus for both sides to find a track and a date that works.

Q: The fact that Pagenaud has squashed any rumors of being replaced by Rossi as well as Penske stating that he would not field a fourth car… do you see any potential chance of Ganassi wanting to snatch him up to pair up with Dixon?

Alan Bandi, Sarver, PA

RM: I don’t think Chip could afford him, and besides, why would Rossi leave Andretti for Ganassi? That’s a lateral move and it’s Dixie’s team, while Andretti is looking very much like Rossi’s if he wants it.

Q: So maybe you can help me with the problem I have with IndyCar. I can’t find anybody to root against in our series. I can’t identify who my favorite driver is anymore. Always been a Scott Dixon fan. TK is a great guy. So is Ryan Hunter-Reay. Loved the emotion from Will Power when he won Indy. Takuma Sato has a great personality. They say that the French are rude and grumpy, but I guess that Sebastien Bourdais and Simon Pagenaud didn’t get the memo, they both are terrific. JoNew. The Mayor. Love ‘em. (And we are all for nicknames in this camp. Tom Sneva is The Gasman forever.) Now I am going crazy over Rossi and Herta, too. Damn exciting to watch them. I could go on and name every driver. Seriously, I can’t find anybody to root against. Any suggestions?

Aaron C.

RM: That is a problem, because they’re all good guys who get along. I was hoping Rossi might be the man in black at the start of 2018 but he really didn’t seem to want it, although his '60s attitude and take-no-prisoners style at least gives fans an option. Until he signs an autograph or poses for a photo or makes a bold pass, and then you’ll like him.

Q: I started watching motorsports in 2015, starting with NASCAR, and quickly migrating to IndyCar, Formula 1, IMSA, and WEC. One thing that has frustrated in my short time of watching motorsports is the lack of American blood in world championships like Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship. Now this is starting to improve, with the Haas F1 team, as well as a few teams like Keating Motorsports starting to make their mark in the WEC.

But it is frustrating that we are not seeing any young American drivers looking to be a shoo-in for F1. To me, SMP Racing is a great example of getting drivers of a certain nationality into global motorsports. If you were to organize an effort to get some American blood into Formula 1 and other international racing series, what would you do? And who are some American drivers that you think would be a good fit for Formula 1?

Cory Harts, Rocky Point, NC

RM: First of all I don’t think F1 wants any Americans, and if I was a young talent like Herta or Ferrucci I’m not sure I’d want to go drive some slug that’s six seconds behind Mercedes and Ferrari. Pato O’Ward could have a shot with Red Bull and all three of those kids are advanced beyond their years, but seem addicted to being competitive and that’s what IndyCar affords them.

Q: Since the Red Bull Air Race World Championship has been cancelled, would IMS be interested in replacing that date with a Formula E race? Any truth to the rumor Andretti Autosport is considering moving from Zionsville Rd. to the old Speedway Transportation Museum? What is the likelihood of Sonoma and Watkins Glen being back on the calendar in 2021? Greater than 50 percent chance Ganassi brings Rossi over to his team this coming off-season?

Mike in Indianapolis

RM: I hope not, the last thing we need is another race at IMS – let alone one without any noise. Haven’t heard the Andretti rumor. Zero chance of Sonoma and The Glen in the immediate future. Less than a five percent chance.

Q: In the Indy 500, Sage Karam did exactly what he needed to do by keeping the car clean and finishing the race. While it was only a P19 finish (he lost a lap early and couldn’t catch that lucky break to get back on the lead lap), the most important thing was no crash damage bill for Dreyer & Reinbold. Sage talked about the possibility of he and DRR doing more races later this year, likely a street/road course instead of an oval. He specifically mentioned Toronto as a possibility. How are things looking for them to enter another race later this year? Do you think that will happen? And is there any chance for him to fill in for Carlin?

Austin, Nazareth, PA

RM: Dennis Reinbold said they’re discussing potential races for the second half of 2019, but nothing official as yet. If Trevor has the funds I would think Conor’s performance at Texas would have earned him the ride for Pocono and Gateway.

Karam did what he had to do at the Brickyard - but will it lead to more opportunities? Image by IndyCar

Q: With all the talk lately of a NASCAR Cup/IndyCar double-header I think it’s a no-brainer for both! We can all see the empty seats at most ovals from both series, and I can’t see how this wouldn’t help select tracks by providing a great bang for the fans that attend the races? How many different series race at Long Beach with constant action? Now the biggest benefit for IndyCar would be opening up suitable dates so they can race at Texas on a cool Saturday night in March. Same with Fontana? Michigan, or maybe a good short track?

It would be great if they could match it up with NBC, but IndyCar needs the spring dates at certain tracks, and I agree with not competing with football... they need TV ratings bad! So why does it seem that Mark Miles is not too fond of the idea?

Joe from Fishers

RM: The No. 1 reason to have a double-header would be because both races would be on NBC and co-promoted as such. The No. 2 reason would be because ovals are dying a slow death and need some kind of a spark to get people engaged. Not sure if Miles is against it as much as he is wary of NASCAR out-drawing the IndyCar show.

Q: Not just yes, but hell yeah to a double-header. I've thought for years that something along those lines was just what the doctor ordered. I love all sorts of racing and see no reason why it wouldn't work well. The only problem is that I've heard on more than one occasion that Brian France was adamantly against that sort of thing. Maybe now that he is out of the picture, thankfully, this could work. I sure don't see any downside to it.

Duke Seegers

RM: I don’t think France would be involved in this type of decision, but he likely doesn’t have the clout anymore to affect it.

Q: Kudos to you for the article promoting a twin bill of IndyCar and NASCAR races at TMS. This could be a paradigm shift that could actually excites and garners both a substantial live TMS and TV audience. The idea parallels the longstanding music concert billing strategy where fans attend because they love one of the headliners but don’t know much about the other – but learn to enjoy the new group when they get actually experience them! The “super weekend” with sprint cars and Gordon’s trucks – even better!

In your opinion, is Jay Frye the man with a foot in both camps that can make this happen? Second question – also in the “paradigm shift” vein – could you also make a case in print for ditching the boring Brickyard 400 for a IMS NASCAR road race (which would be exciting a la Watkins Glen) or (as a compromise) a twin bill at IMS where both a road race and shorter (thus better) oval race replace the Brickyard 400?

Ed K in San Diego

RM: Jay is the No. 1 reason it’s gone from idle talk to a potential reality and along with NBC’s interest it’s got a real chance, but yes, Frye’s NASCAR connections are the key. I love the idea of the Brickyard becoming a road race because The Glen and Sonoma have become two of Cup’s best shows, but I don’t think NASCAR likes the idea. I was told it would look like it failed on the oval, but supposedly Xfinity plans an IMS road course test this month.

Q: The combined IndyCar and NASCAR dates make sense but only if the races are shorter. Watching two long races isn't going to draw interest. How about alternating sprint races? Lots of green and checker flags. The cars are great and speeds are amazing but it gets old waiting for the last 10 laps. It's odd that fast loud cars can be so boring.

CD, Beerhill, PA

RM: Good idea. How about a couple of 150-mile sprints like USAC staged at Michigan in the old days? But most promoters would likely want the races on separate days.

Q: Although there has been talk of an IndyCar and NASCAR double-header, I’d like to see USAC Silver Crown series or modifieds instead. Adding them to Gateway, Iowa or Milwaukee (ARCA recently ran there) should bring in more fans. Add the Lights to the mix and it would be quite a weekend of racing. What are your thoughts?

Additionally, I am in favor of more power with the upcoming 2.4 liter but concerned about escalating speeds at superspeedways specifically. If the drivers don’t go a tenth faster at the big tracks I am all for it. Time will tell, but I hope IndyCar will keep the boost levels in check.

Rick, Roseville, MI

RM: You’re not going to get any track/promoter to buy into a double-header that features USAC or modifieds as the main event. The goal would be to get fans of stock cars to watch IndyCars and vice versa. USAC still has the best racing on the planet and it would be a great support show, but it’s not going to draw the kind of crowds NASCAR/IndyCar could. As for horsepower, IndyCar’s goal is 900 hp by 2021.

Q: Just read your article about the IndyCar/NASCAR double-header and totally agree that it is a great idea for both series. What do you think about doing it twice every season? Pick an oval and run IndyCar on Saturday and NASCAR on Sunday. Pick a road course and run NASCAR on Saturday and IndyCar on Sunday.

Dick Mason

RM: I like your thinking, but we’ve got to wait and see if anyone can pull it off and make it work once before we start adding tracks. I’d love to see IndyCar run Saturday before the Cup race at The Glen, except I don’t think Michael Printup and company need any help selling tickets that weekend (it’s always packed).

Even floating the idea of IndyCar and Cup sharing a weekend at Watkins Glen almost feels kind of mean. Image by Jarrett/LAT

Q: Your NASCAR/Indy Car double-header idea for Texas makes sense. I want to propose a couple of alternatives. I’ve heard NASCAR is looking to add the Nashville fairgrounds. There’s a certain Nashville native crushing it in the championship right now. I do not know much of anything about the track and if IndyCar could race there, but if you want an idea for a double-header, how about a new event that gives the track a fighting chance to get off to a good start? My other suggestion is Richmond. This would also be “new” to the IndyCar schedule. Finally, I think you look at Kentucky or Homestead as other options. Neither of those 1.5-mile ovals races like Texas or Las Vegas. Or hey here’s a wild idea: the Motegi oval in Japan.

Ryan in West Michigan

RM: It would be a great way to introduce big-time auto racing to a track like Nashville, but you’re assuming they can get a Cup date and/or IndyCar can run there. I know Gateway would jump at the opportunity if they ever got a Cup race, and Richmond is very much in the conversation. But this is about helping American tracks and promoters, so Japan isn’t a consideration unless it wants to pay a fortune to the teams.

Q: Read your article on the IndyCar/NASCAR double-header. Heck, I’d be all for a triple-header at Indy on the Brickyard weekend. Move them all to the road course and let IMSA run a 6h42m08s endurance race on Saturday. That was the time of the 1911 500. Then let NASCAR and IndyCar run their races on Sunday. Let NASCAR run a two-hour deal at 11 a.m., and then a let IndyCar be the main event 3 p.m. What say you?

Jeff Piner, Kentucky

RM: I say no thanks to another race at IMS. Let’s find an oval that’s struggling to draw for either series (and there’s a bunch of chose from) and use the double-header as the caveat to bring people back.

Q: I read your opinion piece about why a double-header is great for both series. Glad to see that you support this if this was to happen. This is just something I've thought about, but what if NBC possibly had a hand in it and IndyCar and the Cup Series had a joint All-Star weekend together? We could throw Trucks, Xfinity, and the RTI support series in there to run points races during the weekend. And then IndyCar could have an exhibition race, along with the Cup Series.

And perhaps since it's a non-points event and as I call it, an "All-Star Race," drivers could swap rides and we could see what kind of shows we would see and how drivers would fare. In this idea, maybe we could see NAPA teammates swap rides with Chase Elliott driving Alexander Rossi's Baby Girl in the IndyCar race, while Rossi drives the No. 9 in the Cup event. Kyle Larson can try his hand in a CGR IndyCar while Scott Dixon runs a Cup car. Just my imagination, but talk of possibilities far down the road can lead to fantasies about what could be.

Kevin from North Carolina

RM: An All-Star weekend has a nice ring to it, and drivers swapping rides is the part of the storyline that really intrigues me and would capture the media’s fancy. But it’s easier said that done with contracts, manufacturers (would Toyota let Kyle Busch drive a Honda?) and the proper amount of testing to get guys comfortable. It’s certain got a lot of potential, but it’s also got a lot of logistics to navigate.

Q: I love the idea of an IndyCar/NASCAR double-header, but my preferred location is Michigan. One thing to consider in the fall off of oval attendance is the price. Oval tracks are over charging and pricing themselves out of the market. The Glen does well but their prices are lower for adults, and for teenagers they're just $15, and for kids under 13 it's just $10. For a family of four that's far more doable. Yes, spicing things up with a double-header would be cool, but oval tracks (ovals are way better!) need to lower their prices significantly. It’s counter-intuitive, but they will make more by charging less.

Tom, longtime IndyCar fan from Minnesota

RM: I covered USAC IndyCar/stock car doubleheaders at MIS in the '70s and there have been some great races, but not sure MIS has any interest in open-wheel.

Q: In an effort to increase exposure for IndyCar do you think it makes sense to pursue returning to the Meadowlands? I know it was a terrible circuit in both the original and the revised configurations that were used back in the '80s and '90s, but I think with the infrastructure available, it could be made to be as good as any other street race we have now. Seems to me it would be a great market to be in as it is so close to New York. I would think that all the players that were involved in breaking the contract and attempting to move the event to NY way back when are no longer involved, so there shouldn’t be any bad blood left over from that.

Glenn, Jackson, NJ

RM: No, I don’t think anyone cared back then (CART was promised great coverage by the NYC media and got zilch), and I’m sure they have zero interest today.

Q: I am sure you get asked this question a lot as does Roger Penske himself, but has he ever thought about joining the F1 ranks? I understand that Gene Haas is already there, but they have already admitted they do not think an American driver is ready, which I think is BS. Penske brings a lot of funding that could supply a good F1 team and he has a bevy of drivers he can pull, but hopefully an American.

My only gripe about it is I don’t want him pulling one of the IndyCar guys because I want IndyCar to have better drivers, but I also want to see Rossi, Newgarden, etc to get a chance to show these guys in F1 not only an American driver can race in F1, but also IndyCar has some of the best drivers in the world.

Kyle Winslow

RM: Doubtful. The Captain fielded a full-time F1 team from 1974-76 after running a couple races in 1971 with a McLaren (Mark Donohue finished third at the Canadian GP). Penske’s own models didn’t have much success until 1976, when John Watson scored the American team’s lone win in a PC4 and also added a couple of third places, but R.P. closed up shop in 1977 to concentrate on IndyCar and NASCAR. Unless you get JoNew and Rossi a seat with Mercedes or Ferrari, doubtful they could show anybody anything.

John Watson puts the Penske PC4 through its paces at Monza in 1976. Image by LAT

Q: So Simon Pagenaud, Roger Penske and crew go to the White House along with the No. 22 and Borg Warner to celebrate the Indy 500 win with the President, yet there is no story on RACER.com or Indycar.com. What's up with that?

Joe in Turlock

RM: To be truthful I didn’t know about it until the next day, and Team Penske didn’t publicize it. IndyCar and IMS chose not to run a story because I guess they were concerned about the anti-Trump sentiment.

Q: Did Trump ask Penske and Menard what it's like to be a real billionaire? And why did they even go?

Mark

RM: I thought Pagenaud explained it quite nicely. It wasn’t a political event, it was chance to celebrate a sporting accomplishment like has been done forever, and Simon was honored to be in the White House with his team, sponsor and car.

Q: Will Roger Penske or some other car owner start a new open-wheel series to compete with the IndyCar series by having more American drivers and/or all or mostly ovals? Would you prefer this over the IRL IndyCar Series?

Joe S.

RM: Well, go back to 1996 and then trace the next decade and tell me how having two series worked out. No, nobody is crazy enough to try an all-oval series right now, and IndyCar’s diversity is what sets it apart from every other series in the world.

Q: I decided to break down and provide a counter against those complaining about NBC and the weather for Race 1 at Detroit. Years ago I crewed an ASA race in Toledo. We had funnel clouds bouncing around the racetrack. Rain was coming down so fast the storm sewers were backing up into the track. We had the car as high as it would go on the jack stands to keep it out of the water. We helped retrieve other teams’ tires that were floating away. You are standing in water or in large aluminum trailers surrounded by lightening rods. It's amazing no one got hurt.

NBC did a good job with what they had to work with. It's not safe to have the crews out there with lightening, not to mention the camera guys standing up on temporary metal towers, aka lightening rods. Those complaining should get their butts off the couch and go stand on a 25-foot tall metal tower in 40 mph winds and lightening.

John Balestrieri, Milwaukee Woodwork

RM: Thanks John, it’s amazing there was any racing that Saturday with all the lightning and storms, and when they evacuate the island that tells you something.

Q: Another long-time reader, first time writer with, sorry, another complaint about the NBC Gold package. However, I am glad I have it and do not mind the cost. But could you please teach the people in the editing department how old math works? Today I finally had a chance to watch a replay of the Texas race. It started out fine, but about halfway through, the same problem I had with Barber cropped up. Since there are no commercials, it seems like NBC Gold likes to cut back and show earlier laps of the race.

After I decided to write this I kept some notes ­– they went from Lap 148, to Lap 228, then back to Lap 171, in a span of a minute. Then we got to see Hinch back running in the race (several times) after we saw his interview outside the track medical facility. We also saw Rossi's last pit in, cut to JoNew's donut, cut back to Rossi's pit out. I could not tell you the number of times we saw Rossi make the same pass on Dixie for the lead. So again, could you please explain that laps are counted in old math and are sequentially numbered (and should be easy to keep in order)?  It would be nice to be able to see the whole race. I never did see how JoNew ever got to the front, or even take the checkered flags.

Terry D., Lexington, KY

RM: I’m sorry Terry but I have no idea what happened, so I suggest writing to support@nbcsports.com and explain the situation. And let me know what they say.

Q: I've come across a few responses in your Mailbag recently about the chance of IndyCar coming to Montreal in the foreseeable future. It's not a wild idea as they've raced in the area in the past, on three different tracks. One of them of course being Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, which rebuilt the paddocks this past year for $59 million Canadian of public money that taxpayers would like to see recouped fairly quickly. No question there's a history and affinity for motorsports here, IndyCar included. So is there something you know that we in Montreal don't, or is that some wishful thinking more than anything else?

Alex in Montreal

RM: All I know is that IndyCar spoke with Montreal and were told there might be interest, but it couldn’t be until at least 2021. Champ Car was a big hit there back from 2002-2006, but Carpentier, Tagliani and Bourdais were competing and the French-Canadians turned out to cheer them on.

Hometown favorite Patrick Carpentier catches the kerb at Montreal in 2003. Image by Levitt/LAT

Q: While I’d prefer better exposure on NBCSN, count me in for more Miller Time on Gold Pass. They should give you a 30-60 minute informal show and let you sound off with whoever/whatever you want. Wide open. Also, one of my favorite things about attending the 500 every year is tuning the radio to catch the Talk of Gasoline Alley with Donald Davidson (and thankfully available on podcasts too in May). Following up to the Andretti documentary, would NBC also consider some programming with Donald featuring icons and great moments in the sport? Donald is a national treasure for the IndyCar nation. Adding visuals to his stories would be icing on the cake, especially for racing fans unfamiliar with him.

Aron Meyer, Tucson, AZ

RM: I appreciate your support and I imagine by next year we’ll have a better idea of what is needed, wanted and what we might be able to do for NBC Gold. We have a couple things on the shelf, so hopefully we’ll be able to get some historical pieces on the site.

Q: Question about the qualifying broadcast for the Indy 500. PT and Townsend were saying how important the trap speeds were at the end of the straightaway. During the broadcast, some of the cars had the trap speed info and some did not. I believe it was Townsend that said “that car is not providing the telemetry.” My question is: why would certain cars provide the telemetry and others do not?

Tim, Prosper, Texas

RM: IndyCar says it’s a system problem they’ve been chasing all season, and they believe the root issue has been isolated and being addressed.

Q: I am about your age. I started racing at age seven in 1957 in quarter midgets, which had no roll cage. My dad raced jalopies and modifieds in the '50 and '60s in Southern California with Parnelli, Vuky II, Don Edmunds and the like. He was offered a sprint car ride just before Parnelli but turned it down because he was a married man with two kids and didn’t want to leave us without a husband/father. He lost a few close friends, as did everybody back in those days. But sprint cars were open-cockpit rockets and he calculated it was too dangerous at that time and put his family first.

And I remember when talk of putting roll cages on sprinters first came up. I also remember being at a racing association meeting with my dad, and it got pretty heated. There were lots of reasons given for why roll cages would ruin the sport, but in the end, as we all know now, nothing of the sort happened. Instead lives were saved and injuries reduced. And there’s still nothing as exciting as a sprint car or midget race on dirt.

I think the new windscreen/halo or whatever they end up calling it will be the best thing since the SAFER barrier. And with technology being what it is today, we can look down over the driver’s head right into the cockpit or even get the view from atop his helmet, so we can see more of the driver and the new cage won’t prevent that. I hope the naysayers will rethink this whole thing. By the way, have any of them ever put their necks on the line to drive an IndyCar?

Jim Patton, Lindale, Texas

RM: I recall Bob Grim and Bob Tattersall, two fabulous USAC midget racers, being adamant that cages were the worst things possible back in the late '60s because they would cause the cars to bounce forever. But I think time shows us that we’re always skeptical of changes ,and IndyCar’s new windscreen is the best compromise for safety and not losing the identity of an open-wheel car.

Q: If there was ever going to be a movie about your relationship and history with A.J. Foyt, who would play you, who would play A.J., and what kind of movie would it be? Feel free to consult others if you feel a more neutral opinion is best.

C.W., Chicago, IL

RM: I get along well with Super Tex and he’s one of my favorite people, so I guess it would be a comedy (rated R of course) with John Goodman as A.J. and Steve Buscemi as the scrawny ^@%$# who got bitch slapped back in 1981.

Q: I met you once at WGI. I believe it was the weekend that Justin Wilson won. I remember asking you why you were such a lightning rod! Anyway, always interested in your thoughts and comments, but you do seem to be less of a lightning rod these days. Is that by design or just circumstances, as we are post-split and there is less to get riled up about? Also, bummed that you didn’t play a prominent part during the 500 broadcast!

Don Hopings, Cathedral City, CA

RM: I think The Split took a lot of the fight out of me, especially when I defended CART and bashed TG for messing up May and then all the CART boys defected (except Newman/Haas and Forsythe) to the IRL, so then I felt pretty stupid and used. After TG put everything back together in 2008 I concentrated more on the racing than the politics, and all that hate kinda dissipated. Today I really like Jay Frye and his style and the racing is good, so other than the purses there’s not much to complain about.

Q: About IndyCar taking a win away, maybe you can help me out. I remember a race where Helio was leading near the end when there was a full course caution. TGBB had some convoluted rule in place that I can’t quite remember, something like you couldn’t protect the inside line on a restart. At the restart Helio protected the line, as he should have, and was given a penalty that cost him the race. I do remember IndyCar officials having to restrain him afterwards as he wanted to go after Barnhart. Do you remember that race and the circumstances?

Dave, Vineland, NJ

RM: Yes it was Edmonton in 2010, and he was black-flagged for “altering his line” and wound up being penalized back to 10th, so he was understandably pissed off. As I recall Helio was leading the race and simply protecting his line, and I think that silly rule went away.

An emotional Castroneves confronts IndyCar's then-director of security Charles Burns after his blocking penalty at Edmonton in 2010. Burns... does not look intimidated. Image by LAT.

Q: Hey Robin, please convince me that Parnelli belongs in the conversation with A.J., Mario and Gurney. Been following racing since 1964 and I remember Parnelli as a former 500 winner who nearly won in '67, won once in NASCAR, won on Pikes Peak, and had one amazing Trans Am season. I think of him as a part-timer. My Mt. Rushmore would include Mark Donohue who won in everything: Trans Am, NASCAR, Indy, sports cars, and died in an F1 car.

Kevin, Boerne, TX

RM: With a little luck Rufus could have won Indy in 1961-62-64-67, and he was as good in a midget and sprinter as anyone that ever sat in one. He was a great road racer as well (Colin Chapman offered him a ride with Lotus), and won in sports cars besides putting Trans Am on the map. Then he conquered Baja. Donohue was damn good, but no Parnelli Jones. When we put out our Mount Rushmore shirts a couple years ago A.J. told me I had the right four guys, so that’s all the convincing you need.

Q: I'm an IndyCar fan from the CART and Champ Car days, getting seriously into the sport in the late '90s. Been to several Portland GPs; the last one in 2007 and then last year's race. I really noticed a vast improvement in fan-friendly 'goodies' around the track. Not sure who was behind this facility upgrade, but Green/Savoree seems to take a big-time approach to IndyCar at Portland that the previous promoters and Champ Car did not. My wife and I already have tickets for this year's race.

I used to be one of the denizens of CrapWagondotcom (totally dedicated to Champ Car and solidly against the IRL), and although the Tony George hate was very palpable there, even over the top, you could catch some good conversations about each race if you looked. Are there, to your knowledge, any websites around these days where good discussions about today's IndyCar racing and tech take place?

So, here's my question related to current and past IndyCar tech: The four-lap qualifying speed record at Indy is a bit over 236 mph, in 1996, by Arie Luyendyk. This year, the fastest four-lap quali was just under 230 mph. Can you describe the difference making factors between then and now? Was it horsepower, aero, tires, or some combination of these three (and of course Luyendyk's driving)? If I recall correctly, the car spec for that year was basically the previous year's CART spec. After that, the speeds went down considerably under the IRL specs. Finally, aside from the other tech stuff that I'm asking about, was Luyendyk piloting a Reynard or a Lola from that era? Thanks for your love of IndyCar! I'm there too!

Tom Finlay, NW Oregon

RM: Heard a lot of compliments from the Portland fans after last year, so that bodes well for another good turnout. I think Kevin and Kim understood that returning to a track after more than a decade away would be challenging,so they needed to go the extra mile and obviously did. I don’t keep up with IndyCar websites but sometimes we get decent discussions on RACER.com under a story. Arie had more power and more downforce in 1996 in his Reynard/Ford-Cosworth.

Q: With respect to the Dean Hirasawa letter to you about a catch fence on the pit wall between the pit and track at Indy.  ESPN, until this year, used to show old broadcasts of the 500 the week of Indy, and I remember one where Sir Jackie went around the track and talked about safety. One of this main problems was no type of catch fence or protection on that very wall, and he even foretold the development of the SAFER barrier we use today. And, of course, this was in the '70s; leave it to Sir Jackie to discuss safety. Why do you think there still is not such a change?

Tom in Waco

RM: Not sure, but when they put up that fence for MotoGP I was hopeful it would stay for the Indy 500.

Q: Love reading your Q&A each week! I read the one about a catch fence along pit road at IMS. I believe all but right in front of the pagoda has a catch fence between pit road and any seating, and has since the remodel for F1. I'm curious if you think IMS will ever get SAFER barriers installed all around the oval? I'd imagine they'd not want to remove six feet of track surface on the front stretch, and I don't see anyone wanting to pay to remove concrete walls to install the freestanding SAFER barriers like Iowa Speedway has, but it seems like playing a dangerous game by not having them all around the track.

Add me to the list of people who would watch/listen to Robin Miller stories! Why don't we just get a book, a podcast, and a TV series? Thanks for all you do and congrats on winning the award named after you at IMS this year!

Brian S, Evansville, IN - Home track, Tri-state Speedway in Haubstadt, IN

RM: I stand corrected, there is a fence behind the pits at IMS but it just doesn’t look very sturdy, although it’s better than nothing and the fans do require visibility so maybe that’s the best available. I think the SAFER walls are where they need to be, and some of the protection inside Turn 2 (where Felix crashed last May) proved very valuable. I loved Haubstadt in a midget, and thanks for your comments.

Q: I have really liked the theme in the Mailbag lately of not bitching about things, but I've got two things I’ve got a bitch about. That was one of the best races in Texas in the last few years and nobody was there to watch it. What's worse, the TV ratings came out on RACER.com and the TV viewership was pathetic – the trucks were .01 behind IndyCar at the same track on Friday night; 6000 less viewers, unbelievable.

What's more unbelievable is that it's Wednesday and Team Penske with the Menard Indy 500-winning car was at the White House on Monday and it hasn't been covered anywhere except a political TV show last night. Roger was there, Pagenaud, Cindric and Miles was there. Is this some kind of political B.S. from IndyCar.com or any of the other outlets? No one has been invited from IndyCar since W invited Sam Hornish Jr in 2006. I guess the president called Penske in Victory Lane after they won and invited them and that hasn't been covered. Totally embarrassing. Keep up the good work, and hopefully you can write a nice article about it.

CAM in LA

RM: I know it was a damn good race that nobody saw but Saturday night is supposedly not a good viewing night and I don’t know how to get people to go back to a place they used to pack. The White House visit was more of a photo op than a story, but I don’t recall anyone from Team Penske sending pics out.

Pagenaud had his photo taken with more than one president during his White House visit. Image via Twitter/@simonpagenaud

Q: In the last Mailbag, Max from Moraga, CA asked about three-wide starts at Pocono. IndyCar did three-wide starts at Pocono in both the 2013 and 2014 races, but dropped it starting in 2015. The three-wide starts were both fairly clean – in 2013 Hinchcliff spun out by himself on the first lap in Turn 1 while running third, and in 2014 – the fastest 500-mile race ever run in IndyCar history – the only caution of the race didn't come out until Lap 158 when Graham Rahal spun in Turn 2. Add me to the people that would love to see the three-wide start at Pocono again, but I can understand why they would not want to try it. Either way I'll be in the stands and hoping IndyCar keeps coming back to Pocono for years to come.

Joe Rae, Archbald, PA

RM: I guess my concern is only having 22 starters so let’s just get through Turn 1, but I’d forgotten they went three-wide earlier this decade. See you in August.

Q: I've always been fascinated by those little air conditioner/fan units that teams put on the cars during downtime in the pits, mainly because almost none of them look alike. Are they all homemade by the crews? Do you know the history of these little things? Do they put out a lot of cold air? Who did it first?

Also, contrary to a lot of the complainers, I really like the NBC Gold package. Yeah, it was all free last year, but having Townsend and PT call every practice is worth the price of admission. It would be great if they could do more of your pit interviews, too. They should do like a half hour of just you doing interviews each race week.

Matt in Cicero, IN

RM: According to IndyCar tech chief Kevin Blanch: “They are custom-built by each team, most are self-contained and battery-powered. Nowadays they are getting pretty trick. Most contain a water bottle, driver fan, fans to cool the car electronics and a tablet with timing/scoring and data from the car. I’m not sure who did it first, but everybody has one in some form or another.”

Q: I stumbled across an old program from 1990 hosted by Johnny Parsons Jr. called "IndyCar Racing" and you're a guest contributor on a few episodes. Aside from topics of the day involving diffusers and the limited availability of competitive (Chevrolet) engines, most of the rest of your opinions from 30 years ago ring true still today. Concerns over the number of teams and cars that may appear beyond the Indy 500, and whether or not the series is satisfied with averaging 20 cars per event, entered by about 10 team owners. For as much as has transpired in the intervening years, it's incredible that the series has settled into the same position of relative stability.

Steven Kilsdonk, Noblesville, IN

RM: I vaguely recall that show but considering the costs and pathetic purses, its amazing IndyCar has 22-26 cars at every race and had 36 at Indianapolis. That’s something nobody could have forseen a few years ago.

Q: Want to tell you a quick story about Friday at TMS. I took my two young daughters (3 and 5) to the track for practice and qualifying. As you know, they also have the autograph session that day, which my older daughter was very excited about because she wanted to meet Ryan Hunter-Reay. My younger daughter is a Jack Harvey fan, so no luck for her...

We went and stood in line for about an hour and a half or so, and got to the front to see Santino was first. He greeted me and the girls with a massive smile, and talked to us right away. My girls generally clammed up, but he asked them their names and all that stuff, and then he gave them high fives! All the guys were great, but Santino’s compassion and the fact that he took an interest in actually speaking to them directly, was beyond great. We got to RHR and I told him he’s the favorite of my daughter and he said, “Oh? Well what’s your name?” and signed a hero card straight to her. Holy cow! Made her day, and mine.

Scott Dixon was just as warm as you always say he is, and it was a wonderful, albeit very rushed by nature of the event. When we got out of the line and looked at our take, the girls freaked, they were so excited that all these drivers signed their helmet and gave them their pictures! My daughter is taking her RHR card to school for show and tell tomorrow. The funny thing to me is that Santino made such an impact on them that they asked about him the rest of the day. My wife and I went to the race, and on Sunday morning the girls were asking about Santino. He has a house of fans here, and we know all about what he’s been through. These guys are tremendous overall, especially the ones who stand out by their own nature, and caring for their fans.

Brandon, McKinney, TX

RM: Thanks for sharing Brandon, that’s how young fans are made and I doubt there is anymore of an accommodating group than IndyCar drivers. I know they probably get tired of autograph sessions, but I think they all understand how valuable they are and how necessary.

A moment with a favorite driver at the autograph session can create lifetime memories for fans, as Brandon from McKinney, TX discovered. Image by IndyCar

Q: Texas was a highly entertaining race and yet only 366,000 viewers. This is a crisis for all team owners and drivers looking to secure budget. Yes, it was just up on last year, but that really is not good enough. The product is fine, but the channel is wrong. NBC needs to protect its own investment here and put it on NBC full-time. More driver promotion (Joseph vs Rossi ) etc, etc. As a UK viewer we see the race during the ad breaks. There are so many ad breaks it is ridiculous -- shooting themselves in the foot. I am seriously unimpressed by the TV professionals here. Quick shout-out though for Diffey, PT and Bell. Very good job guys, especially when it rains.

Oliver Wells

RM: NBC has eight races on network, more than ever before, but it’s not going to show a Saturday night race during prime time and IndyCar has never had the kind of promotion that NBC has provided, so don’t blame them. It’s just difficult to get people to watch right now, and I don’t know why because the racing is damn good.

Q: Near the end of the Texas race, during the yellow for Dixon/Herta, I believe Race Control pulled all of the lapped cars into the pit lane in order to let the top 10 or so cars line up behind each other for the final sprint to the finish. If I were Newgarden or Rossi, I would a little upset at that artificial finish. Similar to a National League baseball manager in deciding whether or not to pinch-hit for a pitcher, the decision on whether or not to pit at the end of a race is a strategic decision. Pitting may mean that you will have some backmarkers fill your slot in the restart order.

A race manager must weigh whether restarting further back in the order is worth the better tires or setup that would be provided at the pit stop. A leader of a race works to get around these slower cars in order to provide a buffer between him and his most direct competition. By removing the lapped cars, race control negated the effects of this strategic call, and in fact, favored the lead lap cars that did pit by giving them spots in the restart that they didn't deserve. Sure, maybe it makes a more interesting finish, but at the cost of racing integrity. (Or did I misinterpret what happened there?)

Bob Strawser

RM: That’s always been the rule with 15 laps or less to go on an oval – the lapped cars are waved around because IndyCar wants to give the fans the best show possible with all the leaders right together. True, it’s not pure racing, but we’re fighting for every eyeball out there, so in the interest of entertainment it’s fine by me.