Robin Miller's Mailbag for November 6, 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.

This is a Mailbag for the ages, because all the letters about Roger Penske started flooding my inbox as I was answering all the James Hinchcliffe emails from the previous week. So we’ve decided to run a couple of Penske comments today, and next week will be largely about The Captain’s takeover of IMS and IndyCar. And what we’ve done in this edition is to let fans voice their Hinch thoughts in the first part of the Mailbag, and then switch to the usual Q&A format to cover some questions about The Mayor’s future and then the normal flow of IndyCar stuff. Thanks for the support and interest. Robin.

Q: Holy smolie! Who saw this one coming? If the Speedway had to be sold, I’m glad it’s staying in the ‘family’, if you will. Mr. Penske should be an excellent steward of the Speedway, and IndyCar in general should be in great shape in the coming years. Thank God it wasn’t sold to the France family! That said, I am slightly concerned that rules could be enforced that might be in Penske’s favor.  In my opinion, that should not be allowed to happen. Overall I think I’m happy with this, and there could be exciting opportunities down the road. Did you have any idea this was in the works, Robin? What are your feelings on the sale?

Jerry Laake, Davenport, Iowa

RM: I wrote – and I feel like – it’s the best news in 50 years, because of R.P.’s commitment to excellence, worldwide business savvy, ability to pick the right people to run his companies and his undying passion for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar. I knew something might be coming, but I didn’t hear The Captain’s name until 72 hours before it was announced.

Secrets rarely leak from The Captain's ship. Image by Levitt/LAT

Q: Every time one of the France family made a sideways glance to the north, rumors started flying about IMS being sold. How in the world were they able to keep this quiet for this long?

Scott C, Bargersville, IN

RM: Because Roger Penske commands and gets respect and emphasizes teamwork. It all happened in six weeks, but just like the Mercedes engine surprise of 1994, he gets his people to buy into loyalty and keep things in-house. Hell, he got Paul Tracy to keep a secret back then.

I think that the treatment Hinch has received is appalling. You said it was going to happen, but why couldn’t SPM have been decent about it and done it before teams were pretty much set for 2020? IndyCar wonders why they constantly have to fight for viewers; perhaps they should just look at the way they do business. Hopefully Hinch will find a ride with a team that doesn’t regularly screw up their race strategy.

Dave, a pissed-off Canuck!

I had planned on writing something toned-down about Arrow McLaren SP and its announced driver line-up, and then I saw this small piece in the LA Times: ‘Zak Brown, the head of McLaren, said its IndyCar team will pay James Hinchcliffe not to drive for them next year after driver Pato O'Ward became available.’ Now, how cold is that announcement!

My first reaction to the article last Monday was, how wonderful for Pato and Oliver. Then a few seconds went by (more than I care to admit) and then I said out loud, "but what about James?" So, what else will the team pay Hinch not to do? And this b.s. from Brown about James being in the running for an Indy 500 drive if he does not secure a full-time ride is completely bogus. Does Zak think I truly believe that? This whole episode has been mishandled from the start. The team should have had the balls to let James go in the beginning. That would have been honest. I am disgusted.

Deb Schaeffer

Big news? I don’t think so. Let me be completely frank. James Hinchcliffe is a great guy. The kind you want to have as a friend. Unfortunately though, he is not now, nor has he ever been, a championship contender. The name of the game is winning, and frankly, he just hasn’t won enough. He’s had some good runs and won some races, but he has not consistently threatened for wins or podiums. I totally get the decision to replace him. I don’t like it, but I get it. Arrow McLaren SP wants to win and contend for championships, and there is nothing in the last few years that shows that James can do that. Whenever there is a restart following a caution, he almost always loses positions. He won the pole at Indy, but rarely contends for front row starts. In nine years he has one pole and eight second starts out of 146 races since the start of the 2011 season. His best season in that regard was 2014, when he qualified second five times in the first seven races but then fell off the rest of the season with only three tops six starts.

Some drivers – Little Al comes to mind – have been poor qualifiers but have excelled during the race when it counted the most. So lets look at Hinch’s racecraft. His best year was 2013 where he had three wins and a third. That was a long time ago, and he ended up eighth in the year-end standings. His podium count over the nine years of competition is six wins, one second and 10 thirds. By comparison, Will Power is 33–20–13. Scott Dixon is 24–26–14. Maybe it is unfair to compare him to Power and Dixie because they drive for powerful teams. If Hinch was more of contender, maybe he would be with one of those teams. His best championship finish was eighth, which he accomplished twice. All the others were between 10th and 13th, with the exception of his Indy crash year when he missed most of the season.

As for laps led over his career, he ranks 10th with 778 laps lead. Will Power has led 3,263 and Scott Dixon has led 2,258. To contend for championships and race wins you have to lead laps. Now, I hope James is able to find a decent ride for next year and that he has success and proves me wrong.

Doug Mayer, Revelstoke, BC, Canada

I am a James Hinchcliffe fan and always have been. I am a Honda fan and always have been. I enjoy the Road to Indy and enjoy following the careers of drivers as they move up the ladder. I have enjoyed watching Pato O’Ward and Oliver Askew in Indy Pro 2000 and Indy Lights over the years. They are the future of IndyCar, have great stories and will grow to be fan favorites. I wish them the best in their careers and will eventually be a fan of theirs… when they aren’t driving for Arrow McLaren SP or Chevrolet.

Arrow McLaren SP made a business decision; business decisions happen and they are not always easy or popular. I respect Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson for the efforts they have contributed to IndyCar and the Road to Indy. If they eventually move on to other ventures in the sport, they have my fandom. However, their (collectively with McLaren) timing was s*** and disrespectful to one of the most popular drivers in the paddock and a true fan favorite. I will, albeit silently, cheering inside whenever an Arrow SP Chevy isn’t up to speed, has a bad race or has a race end in non-violent crash. I wish no harm or ill on their two young drivers or the crews, but I do wish them a lack of success.

I have no doubts that Hinch will eventually land a ride. Should he not have a full season, NBC would be insane to not have him on the broadcast for races he isn’t driving. Good things happen to good people. Hinch is a good person. He deserved better and will triumph in the end. His fans are loyal to him and the sponsors he brings. I have a feeling Arrow, McLaren and Chevrolet are learning that. Arrow McLaren SP: unfollowed. I am sure I am not alone in that.

Chris, Oak Forest, IL

All good news for Askew and O'Ward... but I have $50 to send Hinch, and if everybody did that, he could fill the gap for a third car at RLL. I'd donate to a GoFundMe for The Mayor. We need him.

Bill Bailey

I’m here to offer a contrarian opinion on the Hinch situation (perhaps the lone one you’ll see?). SPM was riding high with championship finishes of fifth, third, and fifth with Simon when Hinch joined the team. The team regressed, for whatever reason(s), when he left and James filled those shoes. James’s last five full, non-injury, years with SPM have had championship finishes of 12th, 13th, 13th, 10th, and 12th.

The best current driver to compare him to? Marco. Marco’s last five years have been ninth, 16th, 12th, ninth and 16th. James’ five-year average is 12, and Marco’s is 12.4. Is James better than a 12th-place driver out of 20? Probably. But ultimately you are what your record states, and that states James is an average driver in this series. I don’t blame SPAM for wanting a new direction with this reset and fresh start. Good guy? Yes. Personality? Absolutely. Great comeback story? Oh yeah. Check off the Canadian demo? Yep. But for a team that now has lots of new financial resources, those are things that don’t matter if he’s an average driver.

Mark Schneider

Hinch's career has had its highlights – not but enough of them, argue some Mailbaggers. Image by Abbott/LAT

Zak Brown seems to have brought his F1 mentality to IndyCar where he thinks that drivers are nothing more than an accessory. FI drivers are robots and have no personalities. They are taught that from their very first formative years in F3 and below. “Shut up and drive the car” is the rule, not the exception. What makes IndyCar great is that we have great personalities. Castroneves, Tracy, Hinchcliffe, Kanann, hell, even Taku-san. Zak Brown benching Hinch sets is a very bad precedent. I hope that the other owner’s in the paddock take note of this indiscretion. I for one will never support any sponsor on the side of an AMSP car.

Gary, Anza, CA

The way Arrow SP McLaren handled the release of James Hinchcliffe, they have earned the moniker SPAM.

Dino, New Hanover, Pa.

Ron Zuccata

I'm 100 percent for Pato having a ride, but how can one of the more talented and popular drivers get kicked to the curb with no real alternatives? Any hope for Hinch? Rahal? Or will he be driving the pace car next year? Very sad.

Brian Henris, Fort M

And now, onto the ‘regular’ Mailbag...

Q: I'm puzzled by the published comments by Hinch. He says he is "shocked" and "blindsided" by the decision to terminate his contract. I guess he doesn't read your column or pay attention to Marshall, as you all have been saying for a long time that this is what would happen. Is this just window dressing, or is he genuinely surprised? I hope something can develop for him, as he is a credit to IndyCar as well as a pretty hot shoe.

Erik K.

RM: Well it’s not quite that cut and dried. Marshall and I have been predicting Hinch won’t be at Arrow McLaren SP because what we were told off the record by a few key folks, and the fact Honda of Canada still had him in its 2020 budget. But with RLL’s third car looking less and less promising, he was looking at the reality of one more year where he’s at, and Sam was on record saying he was honoring the contract. So I guess you can still honor the contract but not put the driver in a car. I mean, it was pretty obvious from the press releases that Hinch wasn’t exactly the favorite son, but I do think he was shocked when Schmidt called him. And the other thing we kept telling fans was that McLaren would make the decision on drivers – not Sam or Rick.

Q: Longtime reader and first-time writer. While I can’t blame McLaren for getting two absolute young studs to round out their 2020 line-up, I cannot help but think this is a money-losing move for them. I don’t know all of the specifics, but from what I understand O’Ward has pretty good financial backing and sponsors, but Askew really only has the scholarship from Indy Lights. Am I correct here? And if so, even though going for youth makes sense, wouldn’t it have made more economical sense for them to have Hinch in one of the seats simply due to the amount of sponsorship and backing that he has?

Cade Fulling, Bloomington, IL.

RM: I don’t think either driver was required to bring money – hell, McLaren could run a two-car IndyCar effort for the money it spends on brakes in F1. No, money was not a consideration, and between Arrow and McLaren, it’s a well-oiled outfit with an eye on the future.

Q: Somehow I got into a bet with a buddy of mine on whether SPM is going to pay the last year of Hinch’s contract. Could you confirm for us whether Hinch is going to be paid even though he isn’t driving for them?

Alex

RM: I’ve only talked to Hinch through emails, but my understanding is that he will be paid his salary and may be required to do hospitality and appearances. I’ll ask him whenever I get him on the phone.

Q: You can tell me I am out of my mind, and I usually am, but this scenario popped into my head this morning and won't leave! Foyt switches to Honda for 2020 with a sweet deal from Honda on engines if they put Hinch in the No. 4 car. Honda can clearly absorb another team with the two leases freed up from SPAM. IndyCar wants Hinch in a car as bad as Honda, so they sweeten the deal and put some money towards it. Foyt gets his second car mostly paid for, and has a high-profile driver and he and T.K. are a big-draw team. They probably get some additional sponsorship just because of Hinch being there. Think this is crazy or could it play out?

Forrester L Morgan, Myrtle Beach, SC

RM: It’s always good to dream, but highly doubtful. Honda is full up with a third Ganassi car and likely Michael Shank going full-time, so no room for two more. It would be a good pairing in terms of what you said, but just can’t see it.

Could Hinch move to the No.4 with Honda power? Sure, it *could* happen. But it probably won't. Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: It is disappointing that Arrow McLaren SP waited until so long to oust Hinch. Do they owe him the last year of his contract, or have they used some clause to terminate him? If, as you say, there have been months-long rumblings their relationship has gone south, why wait so long to release him? I’d expect more from Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson. Should James have read the writing on the wall and asked for a release when there were still a couple of seats left? Even before the rift was reported, there were signs. When the McLaren partnership was announced, the only SPM driver who showed any enthusiasm on their social media was Wickens.

Yet, although I firmly believe he is a more talented driver than Ericsson, it seems like CGR has never been fond of The Mayor. He never seemed in the frame for past vacancies at CGR. What are Hinch’s prospects? How far apart is he in terms of sponsorship dollars for Rahal-Lanigan-Letterman’s purported third seat? You hate to see a good guy on the sidelines, but I fear this may be the beginning of the end for Hinch.

Trevor Bohay, Kamloops, BC, Canada

RM: Paul Tracy thinks Hinch should have had a backup plan many months ago when all this was announced, and that’s logical except that Arrow SP indicated it would honor his contract. As we know now, that simply means he’ll get paid not to drive, but I don’t think he knew that. Hinch knew he was a lame duck and no longer the favorite son after Robbie Wickens, but McLaren’s biggest crime was leaving him hanging. Yes he should have at least been told to look around last summer. He needs $6 million to get anything with RLL and he’s a long way from that, so I think his best shot is with a good team at Indianapolis like Andretti.

Q: I’m confused. I thought there was going to be two Arrow SP cars and two McLaren, thus adding to two more cars to the paddock. Please give me some insight. Is that still the case or what?

Mike, Cincinnati

RM: I think that may have been the original hope, but it quickly became clear it was only two cars. That’s the only insight I’ve got.

Q: Each year NBC invests millions of dollars in new network programming hoping to find the next big hit show. Advertising dollars follow the ratings generating profits for the network. Unfortunately, most new shows fail on all of the broadcast networks. Many don't financially recover their costs. James Hinchcliffe's current situation presents an opportunity for a variation on that model.

Reading between the lines of Marshal Pruett's October 30 article, Hinch is $3 - $4 million short of funding a ride. Why doesn't that money come from NBC/NBC Gold? They would have branding on the car and a literal in-race reporter each week. More importantly, NBC Gold should get nearly unlimited access to Hinch's racing activities for its investment. Debriefs with the engineers, working with teammates, race day drivers meeting and all the things that fans can't get access to at the track at any cost. This exclusive NBC Gold content would hopefully generate more subscribers.

The question is, would it generate enough new revenue to justify the cost? No one will know until it's tried. If it works, Hinch gets "renewed," if not, then he's "cancelled." It's not a traditional sponsorship, it's an investment in programming content to drive revenue for the network. Rather than advertising dollars, the payoff would be new subscribers for Gold. Time to think outside the box, people.

Bill Carsey, North Olmsted, OH

RM: I like your thinking Bill, but the reality is that if we had 100,000 NBC Gold subscribers and $20 from each went to what you proposed it might just work. Or at least help get Hinch in a car. Now, I don’t know how many people took Gold in 2019, but I can assure you it was four or maybe five figures – not six – so with all the money NBC spends on motorsports, I can’t really see this kind of investment. But if Gold was available in Canada it could have a shot.

Q: Sadly, it was rather inevitable that Hinch lost his ride at SPM/McLaren. Given his long history with Honda, could we see him as a third driver (for endurance races) at Penske/Acura? Seems like a perfect fit – a good driver and a personable spokesperson for the Acura/Honda brand. On the other hand, Pato's signing with McLaren is a huge plus for IndyCar. I think Pato is every bit the equal of Colton Herta (assuming comparable equipment). The series needs some young rivals.

Jonathan and Cleide Morris, Ventura, CA

RM: I believe Marshall threw out that IMSA possibility, and it makes sense – run sports cars and the Indy 500 if nothing else materializes in IndyCar. Pato and Colton pushed each other hard in Lights, and I definitely can’t wait to see that rivalry in IndyCar.

Q: First, congrats on another great/fun/informative Mailbag season. I think IndyCar is just getting better and the quality of drivers keeps improving. Unfortunately that creates situations like the announcement with Arrow McLaren SP. A good choice for the team, but what happens with Hinch? Does he get paid for 2020 since he was under contract? Does he go to RLL – that would make a strong but old team? Does become the next T.K.? These are strange days indeed.

Bill Cantwell

RM: Thanks for reading and writing to The Mailbag. Hinch will get paid, and if he comes up with $6 million he could get that third RLL car. The cruel thing about racing nowadays is that youth trumps experience all over the world. It’s not necessarily wrong, but it’s the way of the future, as Marshall wrote.

Q: Will the way Arrow McLaren SP dealt with Hinch and how they dismissed him from the team strain relations between Robbie and the team if he and when he is ready to return? I would think Arrow and Sam are the perfect partners to help Robbie make his return to IndyCar happen, but will Robbie's loyalty to Hinch make him think twice about returning with the team? Does the offer Arrow Schmidt Peterson made to Robbie about having his car ready when he can return still stand?

Alexander Martinez, Monrovia

RM: Arrow McLaren SP said last week the offer still stood for Wickens and he continues to inspire everyone with his progress, but he’s still a long way from being ready to race an IndyCar again. But whatever happens shouldn’t affect his friendship with Hinch; they both know how the racing game is played.

Don't expect too many hard feelings between these two if Wickens is able to return to his seat at some point in the future. Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: While all the focus with McLaren has been on their two new, young drivers and Hinchcliffe being out, does the fact that they have gone the younger driver route eliminate their potential pursuit of Simon Pagenaud or another high-profile veteran for 2021?

Vincent Michael, Williamsport, PA

RM: Very good question. I imagine it’s all contingent on how 2020 goes and the level of competitiveness they can reach. But I doubt if either of those kids only signed a one-year deal, so the Friendly Frog may not be in the picture anymore. And remember that was just a theory I had, it was never substantiated.

Q: If Arrow McLaren SP is holding a seat for Robert Wickens (which is great) why not in the meantime keep James until Robert returns? Is there a chance for a third car for James with RLL? I think that would be a great fit for all!

Brian Lancaster, West Lafayette

RM: No third seat at either place right now. Maybe something for May depending on what Hinch can find in terms of support, but I imagine it would be a Honda team.

Q: I am curious on your thoughts about what the Arrow company must be feeling right now with all of the negative publicity surrounding the team about how James Hinchliffe was treated? The majority of comments that I have read are people are really angry about what has happened and are hoping the team will do terribly. As a company, Arrow must be very nervous about how it could effect its business.

Greg B.

RM: I’m not sure it would have expected the firestorm it’s created, but if anyone from Arrow reads today’s Mailbag they’ll have an appreciation. Hinch is beloved because he came back from a deadly accident and is a fan favorite because of his demeanor and the way he treats people. But I doubt people’s unhappiness will have an affect on Arrow’s business.

Q: Over the last couple of days I have heard nonstop criticism towards McLaren, Arrow and Schmidt/Peterson for releasing James Hinchcliffe, and I don't quite understand why. James Hinchcliffe has been in the series for nine years and driven for some of the best teams. In those nine years, he has won a total of only six races, never contended for a championship, and hasn't been overly impressive in the Indy 500 (the race, not qualifying). In five years with SPM, he won three races including the debacle in New Orleans.

I don't know the exact figures, but I would assume that Arrow, McLaren and SP are pouring millions of dollars into their organization. I don't place 100 percent of the blame on Hinchcliffe for the performance at SPM, however Robert Wickens jumped in one of the cars as a rookie and was instantly competitive. All I am saying is that the combination on that team wasn't working, and for how much money the owners and sponsor pour into it, they deserve the right to do what they want. Pato was extremely fast in lesser equipment this year, so I don't doubt he will perform at a high level. I am curious to know your opinion of the decision?

Derek E.

RM: I don’t think anyone disagrees with your logic of a team finding the best or most promising talent available, but the outrage is more about the way Hinch found out. My opinion is that I love the way Pato drives, I’m a big Askew fan and I think Hinch is a good driver and a great ambassador.

Q: I just read Derek Daly’s article on RACER.com regarding what’s happening at Arrow McLaren SP. I wholly agree with his assessment that the two young drivers will not consistently win because of their like styles. Hinch would have been the feel sensitive opposite to helping achieve the optimal performance of each other. We all know that Hinchcliffe was between a rock and a hard spot if he was to stay, but Daly appears to have nailed it when arriving at his conclusions pertaining to the two driving styles proven over time. Your thoughts?

Dan Moore, Placerville, CA

RM: I encouraged DD to submit it because it’s an interesting take on the two styles of race driver and both can work under the right circumstances. The best example I have is JPM. Montoya could have cared less about setup and studying data, and all he ever told engineer Morris Nunn was “to get it close” and he’d be fine. It was a great match because Mo was one of the best – just like JPM. Because all the cars today are pretty much spec, not sure you have to have Mario or Uncle Bobby’s chassis acumen to succeed as long as your engineer gets you close and you’ve got obvious skill like O’Ward. Is it tougher to find that extra two-tenths? Probably, and best thing for JPM was that he had Jimmy Vasser to lean on, whereas Pato and Oliver are rookies. But I’m not saying they don’t have the technical skills to succeed. Let’s give them a couple years.

And here's our obligatory 'get a Daly photo into the Mailbag at all costs' shot. The contract doesn't stipulate a particular Daly. Image by LAT

Q: I read with great interest Derek Daly’s article regarding the “missing ingredient.” Maybe it was just poor timing, but as I read it, I could not help but think the end would bring us to the conclusion that Conor was the “missing ingredient” and should have been selected over O’Ward or Askew for the presence of a more “seasoned” team leader. While he stopped short of that, I’m sure it was a lightly veiled dig at the Arrow McLaren SP driver selection.

I was disappointed in this, since I’ve always held Derek in very high regard dating back to his drives in the Candy Tyrrell cars in the late '70s and early '80s, where he certainly over-delivered for Ken Tyrrell. That said, I’m a Daly fan, both father and son. Do you think Conor has a realistic shot at a good seat in 2020, or is he destined for Carlin, which has certainly failed to impress? In many respects I’m hopeful Foyt throws the required money at a revamped program, finds a damper expert, and has Conor return to that second seat. The combination of Conor and Tony provide both components of Derek’s required ingredients. Any chance?

John Del Rio, Tennessee

RM: No doubt Derek is referencing Conor’s strengths and the disappointment that McLaren didn’t go with him, but his premise is certainly viable. I thought Conor’s performance at Carlin this year was a great example of what a chassis man could accomplish – he literally kept changing that car and made them competitive. I wish Trevor would hire him full-time but he needs money, and I’m not sure CD will have any. I asked A.J. a few weeks ago about bringing Conor back and he wasn’t against it, but not sure the feeling is mutual.

Q: I just read Derek Daly's column on RACER and I really enjoyed his perspective. I had never heard that analogy on drivers, especially when he mentioned Michael Schumacher always having the fastest car, and the reason being is because he provided such great feedback – not just the crew giving him a great car. I also like his comparison between the IndyCar drivers. I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

CAM in LA

RM: The best chassis guys in IndyCar’s golden era were A.J., Mario and Uncle Bobby. Those were the days when you didn’t have engineers or computers – just your butt telling you what you felt. But those three were plenty savvy about shocks, weight, ride height, rake, cross-weight and eventually wings and aerodynamics. On the flipside, Gordon Johncock, Lloyd Ruby and Al Unser didn’t have much chassis smarts, but were naturally talented and the first two made up for their lack of knowledge by driving the wheels off their car every time out. Unser once said that if Johncock had his setup skills he would have won 20 more races. And Big Al was just so smart behind the wheel in a race taking whatever the car had that day.

Q: Just read last week’s Mailbag. It never occurred to me that the faceless hoards of negativity would be critical of such a great man receiving the recognition that he has earned. I guess I’m young and naive at 63.

Brian Bristo, London, Canada

RM: It was a great honor for Roger Penske, but people wanted to turn it into a political event because Trump is so polarizing. That’s our world today, sadly.

Q: Did F1 run the same track as IndyCar at COTA? If they are, it is laughable as they are 13-14 sec faster per lap. If true, it is an embarrassment and really shows why IndyCar needs another 300-400 HP increase.

Chris from Winona

RM: Yep, same layout, but F1 cars have a lot more downforce as well so it’s not just horsepower. IndyCar hopes to be back to 900 HP soon and that’s plenty, because the racing puts F1 to shame in my mind.

Q: Anything else you care to add about IndyCar going to Australia? It sure would be interesting if IndyCar could figure out a way to create a new Tasman-like Series for IndyCars – a four-race winter schedule maybe. Hell, in the future maybe a race in Hawaii (I mentioned it a week before anyone else did)…

Jake, Pasadena, CA

RM: IndyCar is just trying to find the best venues for themselves and the promoter, and something like you suggest might be cool but it would cost millions and who would pay for it?

Q: Fans are forever calling for overseas races in places like Australia, Japan and Europe. For any race not in North America, my question is in the logistics; particularly who pays to move the race teams around? It seems to me that a small team like Dale Coyne Racing or Meyer Shank couldn't possibly have the resources or finances available the ship their cars and all their equipment across the ocean for one race that pays what, $30k to win? Is the cost subsidized by IndyCar or the race promoter? That being said, I'd love to see Surfers Paradise return to the schedule.

Tom, Newark, NY

RM: When CART ran Australia, the teams had their airfare and hotels paid for and that’s one reason the race always lost so much money. But Queensland didn’t care because it was good for business.

If there's half a chance to run a Tasman Series shot, you beat we're going to take it. Jim Clark leads Jackie Stewart at Levin in 1967. Image by LAT

Q: Got your foul weather gear handy? A serious storm cloud just appeared on the horizon, and if the storm comes our way it will be a bad one. I’m talking about stories in the motorsport press that American Honda is interested in doing NASCAR, and if they do it would mean the end of their IMSA and yep, you heard right, IndyCar programs. With the state of IndyCar reported to be on an upswing, if Honda were to leave, IndyCar would be turned upside down as two of the top teams would be without engines, not to mention the remaining Honda engine teams.

Who would or could fill the void? My gut tells me that GM would not step up and supply the entire grid, nor would that be in IndyCar’s best interest. What’s to say that GM also decides to end its involvement and move on? Now the lack of apparent progress in securing another OEM is an indication that IndyCar does not offer enough to entice another OEM, much less keep one of the two it currently has. Of course, all this may or may not happen, but the fact that it is bubbling up to the surface tells me that with the right rules package, Honda could take its presence from IndyCar to NASCAR. What have you heard that you can share with us, and what do you think of this possible development?

Warbird Willie

RM: I think if Honda were to leave then Chevrolet would be right behind them and IndyCar would be in a world of hurt. But I don’t think it’s going to happen, because it would cost Honda a fortune to go to NASCAR compared to what it spends today.

Q: I've seen this NASCAR rumor pop up and I've found it rather puzzling. To me while IndyCar and IMSA are indeed a much "smaller" pond, Honda really gets a decent ROI with the fans of both series. They've been well received and are now very much a part of Indy 500 and IndyCar folklore. I also think it's a very bad market for it. Its rival Toyota has received reactions that are apathetic at best, and hatred at worse. There's accusations of it being favored by the series at large and resentment towards it not being an American brand.

This is despite Toyota putting an insane amount of money towards driver development and filling in a sponsorship need. I think the only place I've seen Toyota get a friendly reaction in present day racing would be the short track scene. NASCAR is also not the NASCAR of the 90s or 2000s. They've had quite a few fan favorites retire in succession (Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart), attendance is down and we've seen sponsors leave in a way that would have made the IRL-CART wars seem mild. I do hope this is not a serious consideration.

Tobin Enz

RM: I think Honda, like any other manufacturer, always answers a question about NASCAR with the statement it’s always considering it’s options. That doesn’t mean it’s going to leave IndyCar or IMSA, it might mean that IndyCar or sports cars should never take us for granted because there are other series. I don’t take it as anything more.

Q: What’s going on with IndyCar’s new engine formula and state of the series if Honda is looking at quitting and moving to NASCAR? Just when we’re getting excited about possibly adding another manufacturer with the new engine formula, we’re looking at possibly losing one (of two)? Would Chevrolet be capable, or want to supply the entire field? How does this look for potential manufacturers? Obviously, a very bad situation if they leave. Never saw this coming.

Don in Minneapolis

RM: Nothing is coming, per se, it was just an interview with a Honda executive who said NASCAR is always an option. Now that Roger Penske owns IMS and IndyCar, I would think getting that third manufacturer is going to be a lot easier and it’s going to happen fast. And, no GM, would not want to field all the cars, it likes competition.

Q: I just had a shock when I read that Honda was considering moving to NASCAR in 2021! Where does this leave IndyCar? Was this on your radar and you never said anything about it? Bad enough if they can’t get a third engine manufacturer would Chevy stay as the sole engine provider for IndyCar? Sure didn’t see this one coming.

Tim B.

RM: Considering a move? I didn’t read that. I read that NASCAR is always an option if Honda left IndyCar and IMSA, where it likely spends a third of the money it would in NASCAR. To quote Aaron Rogers: R-E-L-A-X.

Q: Let’s start by saying I was raised in a NASCAR home. Being so close to 'Dega, however, my father also took me to the runoffs at Road Atlanta growing up in the '80s, so I love all racing. I live 30 minutes from Talladega and about the same to Barber Motorsports Park. The talk of a doubleheader between NASCAR and IndyCar would be awesome, as I want both to succeed and get the fans out to the tracks.

I believe NASCAR doesn’t need four superspeedway races and would love to see the spring race at Talladega go to Barber to do a double with IndyCar there. NASCAR needs a road race before June, and the crowds for IndyCar at Barber are always good, and I think the hillside seating would be great for NASCAR. What are your thoughts on this? I know it wouldn’t work next year, but I could see Bristol swapping dates to the end of the month so NASCAR could coordinate better for Barber.

Matt Russell, Odenville, AL

RM: Talladega appears to be one of the few tracks that still draws good crowds twice a year, so that might be a tough one to get past NASCAR. And the spring race wouldn’t be on NBC so that’s another obstacle, along with the fact there just isn’t enough room for all those transporters at Barber. I like your idea and I love that track, but I think IndyCar wants to have a doubleheader at an oval so it can run on Saturday night and then let NASCAR take center stage on Sunday.

Q: Back in the CART days all of the teams gathered at Homestead for "spring training" in February. I am sure you must have attended yourself. I believe they used both the road course and oval during the four days. Being open to the public, I was able to take a winter break and attend. It was a great way to promote the sport during the off-season and allowed diehard fans good access to the teams and drivers in a more relaxed atmosphere. So this raises some questions. Why isn't Homestead used by IndyCar to start the season earlier after the Super Bowl? IMSA has the Roar at Daytona every year in early January. F1 has its version in Spain. So why doesn't IndyCar resurrect its good idea?

Gary Wood

RM: It was a good event because it was on the oval and drew the NASCAR writers from Daytona, but since Homestead is no longer part of the IndyCar schedule it’s fruitless to stage spring training there. COTA will likely get the call again next year, and I imagine Laguna Seca could also be in the frame again someday (Champ Car went there in 2007).

Q: I watched the Wood Brothers documentary on NBCSN a couple of weeks ago, and found it to be both entertaining and informative. Growing up, my father was a big fan of the Wood Brothers and David Pearson. However, I had no idea of their impact across motor sports. The documentary spent a few moments talking about their success serving as the pit crew for Jim Clark at the 1965 Indy 500 but there was no mention of A.J. Foyt racing for them, nor was there any mention of Dan Gurney.

Instead, they quickly showed a few seconds of A.J. boarding a plane in the early '70s, and, at the end of the documentary, they included Dan’s photo in a small tribute to all of the drivers who had raced for them but were no longer with us. Having spent so much time in the auto racing world, I assume you may have crossed paths with the Wood Brothers somewhere along the way. Do you happen to have any stories or memories of your own to share regarding your interactions with them?

James Jackson, Livonia, MI

RM: Never met any of them, but I know A.J. and The Big Eagle were fond of that family and had success with them. They were just a little ahead of my time covering Indy when they helped Clark.