Robin Miller's Mailbag for August 7, presented by Honda Racing / HPD

Your questions for Robin should be sent to millersmailbag@racer.com. We cannot guarantee we’ll publish all your questions and answers, but Robin will reply to you. And if you have a question about the technology side of racing, Robin will pass these on to Marshall Pruett and he will also answer here. 

Q: What is IndyCar thinking? So, they delay the engine rule change a year. Add a battery power unit to assist in powering the car. All in a naked play to lure another engine/powertrain manufacturer. Oh, and let’s add in a new chassis. And let’s have only one supplier of the battery power unit. I don’t see this plan working, as I do not believe it will result in another manufacturer entering the series because there is no upside for the engine manufacturers, since only one supplier will supply the battery power unit.

Mr. Pruett is drinking the bad Kool-Aid, but got the business side of the reasoning correct. It’s all about the money. Not about the racing. Add in that all the teams will have to find and spend the money for this new package, and the haves will win out over the have-nots again. I’m sure you’re aware that F1 tried electric assist and abandoned it. My idea for the new rules package is simple. Abandon the spec concept and set minimum and maximum standards for chassis, engine and wings, and go race. If there is not the interest, read no money, then close it down and go nostalgic watching IndyCar on YouTube.

Warbird Willie

RM: We went to the ‘ol Kool-Aid drinker himself for a rebuttal:

“If there's one thing I love about the announcement of major changes to IndyCar, it's the revealing of psychics and fortune tellers. I would have never guessed the series had so many fans who can tell the future. I love Kool-Aid, BTW. Who doesn't? As for drinking it, quite the opposite: I've been the one feeding it to IndyCar for years, telling the series how far it has fallen behind the sports car series I cover and how they offer manufacturers modern technology to showcase. As for the gross mistake IndyCar is making by adding a small KERS unit, I'm sure the same overreactions were made when slick tires were introduced, seat belts became mandatory, roll hoops were welded in, closed-face helmets were adopted, wings were bolted on, etc. The past is always better. Go back to (fill in the decade) when the (fill in the chassis names) and (fill in the engine brands) were better and the drivers were real men, blah, blah, blah.

“It's a spec KERS unit. Like spec tires. Everyone will have the same thing. The haves were the haves before, and the have-nots will remain the have nots. A stupid KERS unit won't change financial realities. And, we have no idea what it will cost or who will pay for it. Oops. I didn't mean 'we,' I meant 'I.' ... I still can't predict the future.” – Marshall Pruett.

Hybrids: Coming soon to an IndyCar paddock near you. (Minus Red Bull, unfortunately). Image by Hone/LAT.

Q: Put me in the column of not caring about/not wanting electric motors for IndyCar and the Indy 500. Could I really catch myself talking to my friends, "Hey, that Honda sure does an awesome job with that kinetic recovery blah blah blah!  What a cool, quiet, and non-threatening engine note from Chevy!!!" Hardly. I feel like this is not what Jay Frye meant when he mentioned something about "fast, loud, unapologetic" – certainly sounds more like "Hi, excuse me, merging." The current F1 motor or engine power unit BS sounds terrible, and if that is where IndyCar is going, good luck to them.

Jake Murray

RM: I’m not sure you people read the release or Marshall’s news story or commentary, but it’s not an electric engine. We all hate the thought of 33 cars flying down the straightaway at Indy in silence, but that’s not going to happen.

Q: I have a feeling I'm in the minority but I think the new engine rules were inevitable and necessary for the series to have any chance of enticing more engine builders to get involved. I don't pretend to understand how the new technology works, but if it keeps the series viable, that's great. Kudos to the IndyCar leadership, this all seems to have been very well thought out and reasoned. To those opposed to the new rules, I urge you to keep an eye on NASCAR and the NHRA in the years to come. I see a storm cloud forming for those organizations.

John Fulton, Akron, Ohio

RM: I don’t pretend to know much either and thankfully RACER has Marshall to explain things, but his column pretty much laid it out that this was necessary to try and get another manufacturer interested in IndyCar. I trust Jay Frye knows what he’s doing because his track record is pretty damn good.

Q: Hybrid? No way! Watched my first race in Phoenix in '65 when AJ won in his Dean Coyote and I've seen over 120 Indy car races in person - from Gurney winning in Riverside, to Montoya winning at Indy, and Al Jr. winning in Portland. I've heard and seen it all – the Offys and Fords run in the '60s, including the one Chevy win by George Follmer in the spring of '69. I've even got to see and hear Granatelli's beautiful cheese wedge-shaped turbine cars in 1968.

I've either heard or seen it all over the past 50-plus years of being a avid fan, and for the life of me I can not one reasonable reason for IndyCar to succumb to the showroom's wishes! It's an insult to true motor racing fans. What’s next, NHRA electric cars? True racing fans want to hear that that old growl of the old four-cylinder Offy, the high-pitch whine of the Ford Cosworth, or the intense pitch of the Ferrari V16! What the hell can we do about this, Robin? It's a travesty. SpaceX won’t be building a hybrid rocket anytime soon. Whats your view?

Joe in California

RM: I suggest relaxing, Joe. We’re not going back to four-cam Fords or Novis or turbines or Offys, but we’re also not going to have the indiscernible buzz of Formula E powerplants. A hybrid is combining two different elements, and in this case it’s adding a little more power and the ability to have self-starters with the goal of attracting a major manufacturer.

Q: Why such an abrupt announcement for hybrids coming to IndyCar? I love what Jay Frye is doing for the series. He's been able to execute well thought-out plans while building consensus with the paddock along the way. But from a fan perspective, this particular announcement seemed like a 180. Since this will dictate the next generation of the sport, this decision shouldn't be flip-flopped over. It gives me the impression this decision had to be made by the series but was not wanted to be made. It seems like this came as a direct result of OEMs’ chilly reception to the proposed 2021 (now 2022) engine formula.

Rob Peterson, Rochester, NY

RM: I think you answered your own question, Rob. Of course it was a result of not being able to attract a third OEM and, as Marshall wrote, it’s about good business and trying to stay current while not losing your identity.

Q: I'll start off by saying I'm not a fan of the hybrid idea. Why not look at creating an engine similar to ARCA's Ilmor package? That sounds a lot cheaper to the manufacturers and the teams then spending all that money to develop an engine to outpace the other manufacturers. Make the cars V8s again, too – more displacement would allow for easier access to those higher horsepower numbers. I'd say very few people actually care if it's a hybrid, turbocharged, supercharged, or naturally aspirated engine, they just want to see good racing. So why not develop a common high horsepower engine and save all the manufacturers money? I highly doubt anything they develop for the IndyCar engine will be that beneficial for street car purposes. They will tell you it is, but more then likely it's not.

Travis M.

RM: I, again, defer to my smarter half and technical guru, Mr. Pruett:

“If IndyCar wanted a simple ARCA-style motor, that's what they would have done. Since they didn't, we can assume they have what they believe is best. Keep in mind that manufacturers use IndyCar, rather than ARCA, to promote technology and vehicle sales, so there's no comparison to be made. We already have good racing and it isn't changing. I wish I understood how or why the addition of a 50hp electric boost has been received by some as the end of the world, the death of IndyCar, etc. An extra 50hp is being tacked onto the current push-to-pass system, and instead of turbo boost, it's made by an electric energy recovery and deployment system. It's really, really simple to grasp.”

Q: Please tell me this is in response to pretty much having a third OEM lined up and not just a shot in the dark hoping this works to attract one? Could really be exciting.

Don Weidig

RM: It wouldn’t surprise me if Jay had someone waiting in the wings, but nothing I’ve heard of yet.

The arrival of hybrids doesn't mean the departure of noise. Image by Miller/LAT.

Q: Gotta say, with the recent momentum gains, I'm ecstatic with the recent engine formula announcement! Not only will this provide an opportunity for other OEMs to take a look at IndyCar, it should also open up sponsorship opportunities for teams, drivers and the series itself. I'm curious, what is the cost of running a DPi versus an IndyCar program? I'm thinking maybe some manufacturers could decide that with the larger exposure for IndyCar versus IMSA, IndyCar may be the better opportunity.

Vincent Martinez, South Pasadena, CA

RM: Take it away, Marshall: “I spoke with a successful DPi team owner last month who told me his budget this year is identical to a competitive $6 million IndyCar budget. I'm not sure the spec KERS systems will be the thing that brings more money to the paddock, but as I've implored Jay Frye to do with the 2022 chassis rules, if the series keeps the chassis/data electronics open, rather than spec, there's a huge range of opportunities to engage with all the major mobile phone and tablet manufacturers to create wraparound dash displays, mini networks within each car, etc., and connect cars to the devices that drive our personal and professional lives. The worst thing IndyCar could do is go spec once again with its chassis (not engine) electronics/data systems and kill Fortune 100 companies from engaging with directly with teams – Samsung, Google, Apple.”

Q: Dare I even say the word, Robin? Are you OK? Hope you’re breathing again! Did you see this coming? It is/was inevitable with the way the industry/world is heading, sadly. But maybe it is a good thing if it helps keep the series relevant and will attract another OEM or two to the series! Along with the youngsters!

Tony Mezzacca, Madison, NJ

RM: I’m fine. IndyCar engines are still going to make that lovely noise we all like, and it’s evidently what is necessary to get another player.

Q: I just read Marshall Pruett’s column on IndyCar and hybridization, and even though I’m not a big fan of ‘modernization’ (bring back the original Can-Am!), I wholeheartedly agree it’s time. I just have to wonder, with both IMSA and IndyCar taking a very similar approach to this, has anyone considered the two of them getting together to agree on a ‘standard unit’ for both series?

If they are both trying to attract (or keep) the same group of manufactures, wouldn’t that make sense? Heck, if IMSA could fit the new 2.4 Indy engine into one of their prototype classes, you could have the same basic ‘powerpack’ for either series – or both! I don’t know how well the folks at IndyCar and IMSA get along, but it sure couldn’t hurt to offer manufacturers the ability to run in two series with the same power units.  What do you and Marshall think?

Eric Roberts, Quitman, TX

RM: I think I’ll ask Marshall: “From what I've learned, they have spoken on KERS. Where things get tough is in the number of potential vendors (almost a dozen) which might meet different needs for a small open-wheel installation and a bigger lots-of-space-to-mount-things DPi. IMSA's DPi rules allow custom engines, so a 2.4-liter TTV6 IndyCar engine could be used, but it's built to a different level of power and expectations; IMSA's about 24 hours and 650hp; the 2022 IndyCar units are about 800hp and 12-15 hours of use before rebuild.”

Q: Boy, that Marshall Pruett guy just sold me on this combination. They can do all the hybrid stuff they want, but please don’t mess with the sound. I am still like I was as a little boy walking around the Champaign County (IL) fairgrounds listening to Chevy V8s revving! I still get a big kick out of that in the garage area in May, and I will be loving it in three weeks at Gateway! Hope you are feeling good, as you are still looking good.

Phil Berg

RM: Thanks Phil, I felt much better after reading Marshall’s commentary because he explained the rationale behind this move and why it’s not going to change the racing or turn IndyCar into Formula E.

Q: I love that IndyCar is taking this step! Hybrid engines are on the rise in most passenger cars, so it clearly makes sense to have them in race cars. My question is the cost for the teams. I’m not sure how the engine lease program works now, but will the cost rise too much and possibly be too much for the smaller teams?

Brad Heuer, Coeurdalene, Idaho

RM: Jay Frye says: "Like we do with everything, economics are a very important element to all our initiatives. We will work to make sure the teams have viable options.”

Q: Hey Robin, just read about IndyCar's new engines for 2022-27, and from what I've seen so far, I'm excited. The only major concern I have is the cost. Will low budget teams like Juncos, DragonSpeed, etc., still be able to run relatively competitive programs on their current budgets? (The same thing goes for IMSA's DPi 2.0)

Ian from SC

RM: I think so, because Jay understands the budget dilemma facing his teams each season, and I’m sure he’ll try and put some kind of a price ceiling on it.

Q: Mid-Ohio was a great race as most of them have been the season, so I don’t have any complaints about the race, ticket prices, hotel prices or how much the NBC Sports Gold IndyCar Pass cost. What I would like to ask is where does IndyCar stand as for as other engine suppliers?

Jack, Ft Myers, FL

RM: I think we’re going to find out in the next couple months.

Jay Frye does not look too stressed about the third OEM situation. Image by Levitt/LAT.

Q: I’m going to shock you Robin by saying I have questions about hybrid announcement. Do you think MP’s idea for pit lane only use of the system on ovals could maybe be parlayed into standing starts for road/street races – 0-30mph on electric power only before the engine kicks in?  I believe the concern with the current formula and standing starts was how they affected the engines; that the engines weren’t really designed for it, and the possibility of stalling and cars being stuck going nowhere. If they get off the line with the hybrid, that could even see some of the mechanical failures we’ve seen on pit lane this year go away, right? (Thinking specifically of what happened to Will Power at COTA, which I believe has happened elsewhere this season).

Ryan in West Michigan

RM: I’m going to shock you, Ryan, and pass the ball to Marshall:

"IndyCar engines do two or three standing starts every session when drivers launch from a standstill on pit lane, and do plenty more during the race. Love the idea for standing starts in stages – lots for the series to consider. If anything, the added torque being fed through the transmission would increase the risk of what happened to Power at COTA. I expect the 2022 gearboxes to be extra beefy with 800-1000hp planned and 50hp through KERS factored in.”

Q: Hybrids in IndyCar? What ever happened to "run what you brung"? Really? Seriously? Formula 1 has hybrids and I record the races and fast-forward through them, stopping only for pit stops and off-track issues. It is quite frankly boring. Who will develop this technology? Will it be universal for both Honda and Chevy... assuming they remain engine sponsors? I get they are trying to bring in more manufacturers, but there are no guarantees. Despite whatever promises are made up front someone (Roger, Michael or Chip) will get the early advantage and run away with it.

Beyond that, I have two other concerns. The first is that I personally don't believe hybrid is the future of autos on the road, and second is that fuel cells seem to me to be the best long-term solution. Why not the IndyCar Fuel Cell 500? We already have the Corn Race and use ethanol. This season has been exciting and fun to watch. I have no problems watching any IndyCar race from start to finish, but can't do an entire F1 or Formula E race. Why are they screwing with something that is finally starting to work?

Congrats to the whole gang at NBC on a great job this season, and whomever wins the championship will have earned a well-deserved victory. Glad to see you back on TV and looking well. Thanks for all the inside info.

Tom Patrick, Lake Arrowhead, CA

RM: Run what ya brung died with the advent of engine leases, and yes, both engine manufacturers (and maybe a third) will develop their own system (which I imagine appeals to them in our spec world). I have no idea whether hybrids are the future of road cars, but it’s pretty obvious it’s the future for motorsports engine manufacturers. And why would anyone think this is going to disrupt the good, close racing? Yes there will be a new car in 2022, but it’s not going to be a radical departure from today’s Dallara. And the engines will have more power, but all we can’t foresee is if they’ll be as close as they have been the past few years. Thanks for watching NBC.

Q: All this noise about electric IndyCars... I recall a yawner series of electric open-wheel cars on the old Thursday Night Thunder. I believe they ran the IRP oval. Do you remember the series?

David Weidler, Mascoutah, Il.

RM: No I don’t, but IndyCars are not going to be electric.

Q: What is Honda’s contract with Chip? I know it was very important to lock down Andretti (Rossi, Herta, RHR) but I hope Honda doesn’t put so much focus on them that they forget about CGR. If Chip feels slighted I can see him bailing to Ilmor. In my opinion, CGR with Scott and Felix is just as important for Honda. Yes, Rossi and Herta are both young with the sky being the limit, but Scott still has many years left (oh, and is one of the best ever) and Felix is young and going to be a stud. I’m just saying that I hope Honda doesn’t lose focus on the other very important players in their stable.

Josh R., Salem, OR

RM: I don’t think Chip feels slighted, he got a nice little stipend for going back to Honda in 2016 and I believe his current contract runs through 2020. And there is no doubt that Dixon is a Honda favorite.

Q: What is the likelihood of IndyCar filling this long August gap with a race in 2020? I know we ask about this every year, but with F1 on its summer break and August being the peak of summer, it really feels like IndyCar should be racing somewhere this weekend.

Justin in Indy

RM: Next year is tricky because of the Summer Olympics on NBC, but I know IndyCar would like to close in the August gap ASAP.

Q: There is always talk of fans wanting more ovals, but there not being any oval track promoters that want IndyCar. So, if Pocono and Richmond both want races, this is one of many fans that would be disappointed to not have both. Also, I would think having both Cup races the same weekend at the Tricky Triangle would help IndyCar attendance in 2020.

Matt Converset, Decatur, IN

RM: I think that’s what we’re waiting on – to see if one or both will be on the 2020 schedule, and I would think your logic about that double-header is sound. It could help IndyCar, because right now the Pocono race is sandwiched in between two Cup shows.

Will the next IndyCar schedule feature Pocono? Richmond? Or how about both? Image by Levitt/LAT.

Q: I can accept the urgency felt by IndyCar to make their next driveline include a token hybrid component: the manufacturers have spoken. Will IndyCar immediately look at and consider any changes to the Leader Circle program format and payout? With a slight displacement increase, addition of the Aeroscreen, and additional weight of the KERS package, has IndyCar tasked its staff with securing and certifying a superior refueling rig design? We are not likely to see the next-gen cars needing less fuel per race. A lot of good teams and drivers have suffered in the pits.

Will IndyCar provide Firestone and teams with 9-12 months to test completed 2022-spec cars to allow tire design to accommodate the new chassis and dial in aero elements? Dallara does good work. However, no matter where they magically establish the polar moment of inertia on the new car, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an exceptional venue. Let’s hope IndyCar will minimize the collateral damage this transition will cause. The racing has been so good, we are hoping for the best through this. Thanks for all you do. Thanks for the great column on Rodger Ward’s 1959 Lime Rock Formula Libre victory in an Offy-engined midget. How many guys would have bet on anybody in a midget to beat the Jags, Ferraris, Coopers, etc., on a pavement road course?

Rick W., California

RM: I haven’t heard the Leader’s Circle mentioned in any conversations lately, but I assume you are proposing an increase in money or spots? Don’t see either one happening. New fueling rigs? That seems like an unnecessary expense with new cars, engines, parts. IndyCar likely will have a testing program with a selected team or teams and Firestone will obviously be heavily involved. Loved the photos of Ward in Ken Brenn’s midget at Lime Rock.

Q: So theoretically, is Rossi the first one ever to turn down Penske? Also, Chevrolet has won the last two Indy 500s – was this a reason to consider a Chevrolet team? Or will Honda, like 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, be back in Indy’s winners circle?

Duane A.

RM: No. Ryan Hunter-Reay also did to stay loyal to Michael for giving him a lifeline in 2010, and he went on to win the championship and Indianapolis 500 so it worked out. Any driver would listen to The Captain, regardless of his engine at the time. Chevy and Honda are about as even, year in and year out, as anyone could imagine, so flip a coin.

Q: Can you go into further detail about why Rossi is OK with a four-car line-up at Andretti but not at Penske? Secondly, I found your article interesting that you said that the Rossi camp approached Penske, and not the other way around. Lastly, do we know how many years his new deal is for?

Andy Brumbaugh, Columbia, SC

RM: Those were Roger Penske’s comments – Pieter Rossi chose only to say they had an offer from a championship team. But the obvious difference is that Alex is the future for Andretti. The team is built around him with help from Honda, while Rossi would simply be the fourth spoke of the most successful wheel in IndyCar with R.P. It’s a three-year deal with an option in the fourth.

Q: It was a pleasure meeting you and chatting with you in the pits at the Toronto race. It smells like something is cooking with McLaren and maybe with Arrow Schmidt Peterson. I noticed the Arrow name on the McLaren halo during todays F1 race. I'm I reading too much into that? If that's the case, we know no Honda engine, which means no Hinchcliffe. It would also mean no new car count, just a name change.

Ron Z.

RM: Arrow made a deal with McLaren F1 earlier this summer, but last May there was a rumor that Zak Brown wanted to buy out or buy into SPM, so that’s cropped up here again lately. My logic is that ASPM has one more year on its contract with Honda, so do you really think Japan would kindly let them step away to help McLaren?

Q: I would like to respond to the reader’s question last week about how Nielsen ratings are calculated. My household was a Nielsen home a couple of years ago. The duration is two years – you can't go longer, even if you want to. They put devices in the home that tracks everything you watch and listen to – it's actually quite clever how it works. As for programs that are recorded to a DVR, if you watch them within 24 hours of the air date, it counts. That's why you get the overnight ratings and then the final ratings later after the DVR'd shows are figured in. It does no good to turn on a television just to be counted in the ratings if you do not have the Nielsen equipment in your house to capture it.

Cliff Carlino, Kearney, MO

RM: Thank you very much for that info Cliff, I had no idea how Nielsen works. But I still find it antiquated that it’s used in something like only 1,800 homes when they could put a chip in every TV and monitor exactly what people watch 24/7.

Q: Why are Long Beach, Pocono, Texas, Iowa, Phoenix and Gateway on NBC Sports Network and not NBC?

Joe Shatee

RM: Long Beach falls during the NHL playoffs, while Texas, Iowa and Gateway are night races and NBC isn’t going to show an IndyCar race in prime time. Pocono is perfect for cable, and Phoenix is no longer on the schedule.

Q: Thanks for all you do, have enjoyed your work for many years! Maybe you can confirm this with your NBC management, but I think fans need to be reminded that full replays of races are available on NBCsports.com and the NBC Sports app after the events, regardless if you are a Gold member or not. I saw people complaining about the late Iowa race or missing races when they run over or are flipped to alternative channels. As long as you have internet access and a cable TV subscription, I am pretty sure the full races are available for a few days for everyone. (Maybe confirm this before posting this). By the way, NBC IndyCar Pass has been well worth the fee. Hope it continues next season.

Mark B.

RM: Thanks to NBC’s Cora Veltman for the following info:

Is it a coincidence that as soon as we have a race like Mid-Ohio, we start getting letters about watching replays? Image by LePage/LAT.

Q: I work for a network affiliate, and our station managers can get viewer counts from DirecTV. If a customer's box is on, DTV can tell what channel, how long, etc. However, there's no intel on who is in the room, unlike Nielsen, where if people accurately report viewing habits, they can count viewers. I have to admit I've done the whole "leave the TV tuned to the race, even if I'm not watching" thing, especially back in the ChampCar/IRL war days.

Bill Bailey

RM: Again, thanks for this info Bill, I’m always amazed in today’s world that TV ratings are still based on a few homes and that carries the big stick with advertisers. I left my TV on NBCSN all day last Sunday for NASCAR and IMSA but I don’t count (smile).

Q: I haven't seen what the TV ratings were for Iowa or Mid-Ohio races. I'm hoping that they were up from last year, and that having Mid-Ohio on NBC really helped get a big number.

Jim Christ, West Chester, PA

RM: Well Iowa was doomed because of weather, and it didn’t start until midnight EST and finished at 2:30 am, so it only averaged 156,000 viewers after starting with 259,000. Mid-Ohio’s good racing was met with a disappointing 0.47 rating (670,000) on NBC after drawing 644,000 in 2018 on CNBC and NBCSN (re-air).

Q: So Mr. Miller, I am curious about something you may be able to get an answer to, as my provider is worthless. I am an IndyCar and IMSA fan. I am thoroughly disappointed with NBC coverage of IMSA delaying a race until after an IndyCar or NASCAR race. I prefer to watch my races live. I have been trying to use my NBCSports Go app on my AppleTV and mobile device, and have been getting authentication issues. I did not pay it much attention until the IMSA race at Road America.

After spending nearly one hour on phone with AT&T service, I was informed AT&T has declined service of the NBCSports Go online streaming app. I am now curious as to how the people with AT&T service who also paid the Gold package now do not have access to what they paid for? Will NBC now be providing refunds for the AT&T customers? I have never written to the Mailbag before, but I would love to read comments from the race fan community who happen to be AT&T customers.

Darryl Lawson

RM: Sorry Darryl, this is the first I’ve heard of this AT&T situation so hopefully if some of our readers share your dilemma they will respond. You might be able to get an answer by emailing: support@nbcsports.com

Q: That was the best race at Mid-Ohio since Mark Donohue and George Follmer went at each other back in 1973! A lot of race fans are really upset that Felix wasn't able to get past Scott, but in terms of lapped traffic there aren't a lot of places at Mid Ohio to get out of the way. Question: do you think if the Keyhole was re-profiled to be super-wide, would it provide a place for lapped traffic to get out of the way and allow trailing cars to get a bigger run down the back straight? I'm thinking of something like Turn 10 at Montreal. Doesn't seem like it would be cost-prohibitive to implement.

Jonathan and Cleide Morris, Ventura, CA

RM: I recall when Savoree and Green bought Mid-Ohio that there was a proposed layout to extend the Keyhole and widen, it but nothing ever happened. Considering all our favorite road courses were built 50-60-70 years ago, it’s amazing there’s any passing because they’re all so narrow, but the Dallara has proven its worth on these tight places.

Q: I am just reading the RACER article ‘Steiner considering team orders for Haas drivers’. Further, he refers to this as ‘drastic action’ after Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen again collided in the German Grand Prix. That is two races in a row. This not what I would do. Instead, I would fire their asses and hire any two of over a dozen drivers in IndyCar who demonstrated that they know how to race without hitting anyone. The expertise that the whole field demonstrated last Sunday at Mid-Ohio is even more unbelievable to me after I had two days to think about it.

At the beach yesterday, I was speaking to a gentleman who noticed that I was reading Road & Track. He asked if I had watched the race yesterday, and I responded which one? (There were three, F1 in Germany in the rain, IndyCar at Mid-Ohio and another tin top GWC at Pocono). He answered, the one on NBC from Ohio. Wasn’t that something else? I emphatically agreed! This was a great reaction from, at best, a temped race fan and portends a better future of the series.

This was a lot of words to say that I have seen many, many races at four different venues over a 57-year period. Last Sunday’s performance was the best that I have ever seen, not just in IndyCar, but any other racing series! Tomorrow, I plan to call DirecTV and find out how I can save this recording to a DVD for posterity.

Dick Hildebrand, Ormond Beach, FL

RM: I have to say that the driving in the past couple years has been hard and entertaining but pretty damn clean, and it’s a tribute to the guys pushing the throttle. So, to your point, it can be done. Like watching the first 20 laps of the Chili Bowl a few years ago and 24 cars ran nose-to-tail, or side-by-side or slid past each other in every corner and not one caution.

"Ha ha ha! No, but I'm serious. I've signed Sage Karam and Conor Daly." Image by Hone/LAT.

Q: Fantastic race at Mid-Ohio, but it would have been even better if the lapped cars at the end weren’t allowed to interfere. I know it has been stated before that they don’t have to give way so they can try to get their lap back, but really with five laps to go, what would they gain? Instead of finishing in 15th place a lap down, they get to finish in 15th place on the lead lap? I guess if they got their lap back and then there was a full course caution they could fight for 14th place, but who cares? I’d rather see the leaders fight for the win without being impeded by lapped cars. With 10 laps or less to go IndyCar should make them move over for the leaders.

Dave, Vineland, NJ

RM: That’s where the good ‘ol NASCAR yellow would have waved and all those guys would have been removed from the equation. But as I’ve watched for 50 years, lapped cars are part of the show on ovals and road courses, and how the leaders deal with them is part of their craft. I know what you’re saying, but T.K. was the only guy who pulled out of the way because he was by himself and everyone else was in a fight.

Q: A moment to praise Mid-Ohio before my question. Took two under-12-year-old IndyCar fans to their first race this weekend. Under 12 got in free with an adult and free paddock access. They met a number of drivers, got a bunch of autographs and took a lot of pictures. We sat in Turn 4, Turn 1, the Carousel and the new seating in the Keyhole. Then with the finish, it couldn't have been better. Perfect. They are now fans for life. How are things looking for Conor Daly in 2020? I think he has proven he belongs.

Brian Henris, Fort Mill, SC

RM: Glad to hear some future fans had a good weekend. Conor has shown he belongs more than ever this season, but it still boils down to money unless Carlin or McLaren would hire him.

Q: I think there are two key points to the Mid-Ohio race, one being very positive, and one negative. First the negative. These late starts on Sunday afternoons are getting ridiculous. It takes close to an hour to get out of the track on a good day, from past experience. Factor in that some fans are coming from four-plus hours away and have to work the following day, it makes things far too difficult. I wish more would take Road America's approach and dictate a 12:30 local start to enable fans that are driving from a distance away to be able to get home at a reasonable time.

Now, the positive. I think Firestone deserves a large amount of credit and praise for how exciting the race was, especially when you factor in the fall-off that drivers encountered on the reds during extended runs. Also, kudos to the Ganassi team for giving Rosenqvist the green light to challenge Dixon in the final laps. Add to that Rossi's struggles and Newgarden's shunt at the end, you couldn't script a more dramatic weekend. I think this is going to be an exciting one as it comes down to the wire.

Alan Bandi, Sarver, PA

RM: I totally agree with you – all races not on NBC should start no later than 2 p.m. – and show them on tape-delay for NBCSN. But in this case, because of the Tour de France, the NBC slot was 4-6 p.m. and national television is important for IndyCar, so a couple of late starts a year can’t be helped. But it sucks for the paying customers, and I don’t blame anyone for not attending a 4 o’clock start. Firestone has been helping the racing for many years with its primary and alternate tires, and Mid-Ohio was another good example.

Q: Was at Mid-Ohio this weekend and something stood out to me while watching Marco's car being worked on in the paddock before the race. They have been having electrical gremlins it seems all season, and I saw a Honda engineer spending lots of time with the laptop hooked up to his car and running tests. Not that I am a counselor or anything (I am, haha), but the crew’s body language just looked kinda defeated. What's going on with that team? It's almost like they have quit on the season and are almost just an in-season test driver right now... collecting data for Rossi and Hunter-Reay. Either that, or something is up. With Herta maybe being available, do you see him staying with Andretti and maybe Marco stepping out of the car except Indy like Carpenter, or do you see him going to McLaren?

Lastly, a great observation from Mid-Ohio was that just like at COTA this year, where I also went, seeing lots more young fans... kids... teens… coming to the events and bringing their friends. Even more people wearing driver gear, too. Great, great sign in my opinion, so tell the brains trust at IndyCar that what they are doing to change demographics is working.

Michael Lewis, Center, Ohio

RM: Nobody can pinpoint what’s wrong with Marco, but I can assure you his team hasn’t given up and his problems aren’t engine-related. I think Michael wants to keep Colton in the family and will do whatever he can. Good to hear more young people are showing up, but it just seems like road and street races – not ovals.

Raw talent doesn't seem to be the problem. So what is? Image by LAT.

Q: I have never done something called binge drinking, but this past weekend I tried “Binge IndyCar Racing”. I drove to Mid-Ohio and attended Friday’s IndyCar practice. Then driving back to Charlotte on Sunday, I listened to the IndyCar radio broadcast. Finally, I just finished watching the TV broadcast. Here are some observations: Wow, what a race! A few months ago you wrote a column on what makes a great race. We now can say the definition of a great race is the IndyCars at Mid-Ohio 2019. The racing was fast, furious and non-stop. And it didn’t matter if it was drivers battling for the lead, or Marco and Sato battling for 14th at the end of the race.

This was by far the best IndyCar race I have seen at Mid-Ohio, and I have watched all of them since 1980. And being there on Friday reminded me of why fans attend races: the sound and the speed. There is nothing like it in all of sports. And hats off to Mid-Ohio for continuing to have the finest road race facility in the country.

Finally, I used to be a big advocate for bringing back the days of innovation, of having multiple chassis and designs like the CART days. But IndyCar has come up with an incredible package that is producing the best racing in motorsports, and where the driver still makes a difference. Please IndyCar, remember this one thing: If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

Rick Schneider, Charlotte, N.C.

RM: Sounds like a potential game show hosted by Drew Carey – attend, listen and watch. You are a super fan Rick, and you’ve been writing to the Mailbag for as long as I’ve had it and I value your opinion. I think you are spot-on – a helluva race, and these cars and engines make for the best competition ever, with a nice assist from the drivers. IndyCar will have new cars and engines in 2022, but hopefully not have any drop-off in the best show going.

Q: Here's my silly season prediction: McLaren will take over Carlin Racing and make it the Team USA squad for them over the off-season. Trevor will run it on behalf of McLaren, as well get development driver deal (McLaren) for RTI and FIA. HSR folds which both Leader Circle payouts and Herta goes to Team USA McLaren/Carlin. When the next engine debut they will partner with Cosworth. Try to win Indy in "McLaren powered" with Alonso. In meantime it be Herta, Chilton, Kimball full-time; possibly Ericsson joining. Alonso Indy only.

Kevin, Long Beach, CA

RM: OK, Kevin your predictions have been duly noted and filed away, but I don’t think Trevor Carlin has any plans to merge with Zak Brown. And depending on what happens with Mike Harding’s team, there will be a bidding war for little Hertamania – but don’t count out Michael Andretti.

Q: I have been going to IndyCar races since 1974. Been to Indy 24 times, and have been to Michigan, Pocono, Mid-Ohio, Cleveland and Chicago. I had on my bucket list to see a night race either at Iowa or Texas. Well, this was the year. In all the years of going to open-wheel races, nothing could have prepared me for a night race at Iowa. It was sensory overload. The sights, the constant sound, the smell of the cars, everything.

I thought that the racing at Michigan was crazy during the Hanford Device races, but there was so much action going on at Iowa I could not believe it. It was hard just to keep an eye on the leaders without watching the racing in the rest of the pack. IndyCar really needs to have more of these during the night. OK granted, this one was a bit late due to the thunderstorm, but I would go back in a heartbeat. Even though Newgarden was not going to be beat that night, the race was very entertaining. Hats off to the Iowa organization during the delay. They kept the fans informed.

Now to the question. Why on earth do the Indy Lights not run on this track?  I would think they would put on one heck of a show. Thanks for your great coverage of IndyCar.

Jim Petro, Massillion, Ohio

RM: Once it got going it was a helluva race from second to 15th, agreed, and glad you were entertained and hung in there. Tony Cotman, the chief steward for Lights, said that with Road America then Toronto, Iowa and Mid-Ohio back to back-to-back something had to be left out, and Iowa was the most logical in this situation. But Lights loves racing at Iowa!

Q: Last night I watched the truck race from Eldora. I enjoy the short track qualifying format. I was wondering if something similar would be possible for IndyCar at Iowa? I suppose the smaller field for IndyCar might be an issue, but wouldn't it be fun? Is such a thing feasible?

Tim Adams

RM: IndyCar tried qualifying races at Iowa back in 2015, but because there are only 22-23 cars and those races didn’t pay anything, the risk isn’t worth the reward. Find a nice sponsor and hell yes, let’s have a couple qualifying heats, but just finding a title sponsor for the race is tough enough.

Q: I see a lot of people complaining about the cost of attending IndyCar races, and have the solution. Become a course marshal. I have been a race marshal at Mid-Ohio for 20 years, the Indy Grand Prix for five years, and the Cleveland Grand Prix for three years. I have not paid to get into a race in 20 years, get fed lunch and dinner every day, free camping at the track, and the second-best view of the race, next to the drivers.

At Mid-Ohio the course marshals get rotated to different corners every day, so we get to see different parts of the track. As course marshals, we have the ability to travel to different tracks and different race series, IMSA, SCCA, vintage, motorcycles, etc. This year I had the opportunity to work with marshals from Texas, Florida, Michigan, Indiana, Canada, and have known some for years, and met others for the first time this year. We are always looking for more marshals, so look up your local SCCA region and volunteer to become a Flagging and Communications member. My only cost is getting to/from the track. So if you really want to attend IndyCar races, there's always a place for you. Thanks for your passion for IndyCar.

Doug Imhoff

RM: No Doug, thanks for your passion and dedication, because without corner workers, guards, volunteers and all the ancillary folks that make up a race weekend, we wouldn’t be able to function. But I appreciate your suggestion and the information you provided in case anyone wants to follow in your footsteps.

Being a marshal is win-win – you get to watch racing from the best seats in the house for free, and make an important contribution to the entire race weekend. Image by LePage/LAT.

Q: If it was ever allowed, would an IndyCar be able to compete a 12- or 24-hour endurance race? What tweaks would they need to do to make it last that long? If they could hold up long enough, that would be awesome to see.

Eric, London, Ohio

RM: I imagine with today’s dependable engines it would be possible, but I don’t know of anybody that wants to watch an IndyCar race that lasts that long. I’m for cutting down ovals to a couple of twin 150s or 125s, because we want to see fast, hard racing. Let the sports cars go the enduros.

Q: No question, just a comment.  In last week's Mailbag, Rob Peterson asked about a possible NASCAR/IndyCar double-header, and asked whether a night race on a road/street course had ever been considered. You responded that it had not been considered to your knowledge.

Not in IndyCar (if one wants to get technical), but Champ Car ran under the lights at Cleveland in 2003.  As I recall (I was there), the series brought in the same portable lighting that ABC used to do a night football game at Notre Dame the previous fall. Problem was, there wasn't nearly enough of it. The neat thing about night racing on ovals is the way the cars' paint jobs "pop" out under the lights, and that really didn't happen at Cleveland – there was enough light to see, but not enough to really make a show, as it was.

Also, in the build-up to the race, there was a lot of talk about how difficult it was going to be for race strategy as the race started in the daytime and ended at night, and all the talk was about changing track temps, tire wear, etc. But as I recall it stayed pretty warm even into the evening, and the track temp changes never were really much of an issue. Seb won it going away, PT finished second. They had a concert by the Romantics after the event, but I left due to the late hour by the time the race ended. At Charlotte, given the smaller venue and permanent lighting, it would probably work much better than it did in Cleveland.

Paul, Streetsboro, OH

RM: I was at that race and it was a big waste of money on those lights because it didn’t get dark until a half hour after the checkered flag. But Jay Frye is open to suggestions for his proposed double-header and an IndyCar/NASCAR twin bill on a road course or street circuit might be tougher logistically than an oval but it also might be a big hit. There’s been talk about Charlotte’s Roval but I think trying an oval first would be preferred because the object is to get people back at ovals. But NASCAR would put on a good show at Burke Lakefront Airport just like CART always did, and a title sponsor would be easier to find with a double-header in Cleveland.

Q: In response to Gareth's letter from last week's edition of Mailbag: IndyCar oval race in Europe? In short: no way. The two places CART went to in the 2000s: Rockingham Motor Speedway in the UK and EuroSpeedway Lausitz, are out of the question. Two similar cases: the oval layouts were not used since CART left, and fell into disrepair. (Rockingham even had no SAFER Wall installed!) The road courses were still used by BTCC and DTM. Rockingham was closed in 2018, and currently is being torn down to be turned into a logistics site. Lausitz was bought by DEKRA, which is a German car development and safety company, and is going to be used to develop self-driving cars, with one DTM weekend a year (at least this year in August, no idea about the future).

Other that that, there is only one permament oval track in Europe I could find – Raceway Venray in the Netherlands – half-mile, 25 degrees of banking, with noise-related legal problems, used in very niche local European late model and Silver Crown-ish pavement sprint cars, and NASCAR Euro Series. Not much of an IndyCar track, more like a local oval, I think. I live in the Netherlands at the moment, and I found out about it Googling before writing this letter, so I guess that's that in terms of publicity. Lausitz and Rockingham happened only because CART found popularity in Europe because of Eurosport (basically European ESPN) aired the races all around the continent – including places where IndyCar has nothing in terms of coverage nowadays (such as my wonderful homeland).

How about now? Pagenaud winning the 500 barely made the front pages of French sports papers, and not as a main item, more like a curiosity. By the way, whom should I send a strongly-worded letter in order for NBC to allow us Europeans to buy Gold? Or maybe allow the foreign providers to sell the access to Gold coverage – many of them have their own means to provide streaming. I couldn't watch most of the practice and quals for Indy – it was very hard to find a dodgy stream, and I genuinely want to give IndyCar my money. Why make it hard for me?

Filip G., Poland/the Netherlands

RM: Thanks for the update on those two tracks. They drew good crowds, really good in Germany, but it’s kinda sad to hear about the lack of coverage in France for Pagenaud’s victory. I guess the reality is that we need to try and cultivate more fans in North America before worrying about going to Europe or Asia or South America, unless a track would pay a big fee to IndyCar and the teams could all make money. Give me a month or so to try and find out about your Gold question, but thanks for being a loyal fan.

Q: I've just finished watching GOTS Eldora Derby and I am wondering should IndyCar consider also comeback to its roots? New chassis for one-off dirt track in 2022? Might be cool.

Kuba Dradrach, Wroclaw, Poland

RM: No chance, not with a new car and engine coming in 2022. But maybe rent some late models and have a made-for-TV race at Kokomo or Bloomington or Terre Haute for the IndyCar guys during the off-season.