Robin Miller's Mailbag for March 25, 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: Who could have predicted our whole world would be so changed?  It has been unsettling, but we are coping as best we can. I am concerned about you all (racers, teams, reporters, broadcasters, promoters, venue staff, etc.) and how everyone will make ends meet. I was pleased to read on RACER.com about efforts by Roger Penske to help the IndyCar teams during the shutdown. I cannot imagine the stress everyone is under. A big thank you to RACER for keeping the fires burning and its staff employed. I personally am grateful in having articles and videos to enjoy during this time of uncertainty. The year, however, just won't be the same without attending my home race in Long Beach. I enjoyed your column last week on AJ's win in Houston 50 years ago. Please keep these "looking back" articles coming. Any chance for a new video or two in your Tough Guy series? I look forward to them.

Deb Schaeffer

RM: Give owner Paul Pfanner a big pat on the back, because not only are we still employed but Mark Glendenning, Marshall Pruett, Chris Medland, Kelly Crandall and Marty Fiolka are cranking out stories daily and trying to keep race fans engaged and entertained in this trying time. I just finished five more Tough Guy videos, and I’ll do more retro stories because they’re fun and old people like me enjoy them.

Q: We all looked to you during the dark days of IndyCar. You were the only source for people like me to stay engaged. Something that would be interesting to me is a Mailbag session for drivers. For example, with Mario: 1) Which turn in all of racing had the greatest pucker factor? 2) Which driver in your past had the most potential but for some reason didn’t make it? 3) Which car did you want to race that you never had the opportunity to run? 4) Which drivers today could have made it in the earlier days? Just some thoughts! I’d love to hear A.J. unplugged! Also, this is good stuff for your upcoming book.

Wally, Eden Prairie, MN

RM: Good idea. Talked to Mario over the weekend and he’s bored like the rest of us – not only is he a wonderful interview, he’s a historian as well. And I like your first four questions. [Wally: We’ve actually been working on something along the lines of what you suggested; just need to finalize a few details. Look for more information on the site in the coming days – MG].

Q: I laughed the whole time reading about your phone call with Uncle Bobby. I think I'd pay good money to put A.J., Mario and Uncle Bobby in a padded room with a microphone and a case of beer (well... maybe some vino for Mario) and just sit back and listen to them talk about the good old days for a few hours. Thanks, Robin. That was just the RX I needed for this social distancing stuff.

Brad in Seattle

RM: My pal Steve Shunck works for Borg-Warner. Every May he hosts a dinner for former Indy winners, and I wish we had taped the one from a few years ago when A.J., Parnelli, The Big Eagle, Uncle Bobby and J.R. were sitting around the table for two hours. Steve showed highlights of their race wins while dinner was being served, and they offered up some stories we’d never heard before – or since. We’ll never get them all back together and it would have been treasure, but glad you liked Unser uncensored.

"Why do people keep telling me to ask you about the turkey story?" Image by Phipps/Sutton Images

Q: That telephone call with Bobby Unser was great, since I have been attending the 500 since 1964 and his start in the Novi. Bobby really became a favorite of mine. I was at The Fairgrounds in 1968 when he and Mario were told to race the Hoosier Hundred since they wouldn’t be racing in the Italian GP. Bobby took the microphone and had the stands in stitches over his comments about the racing officials in Europe and how they handled the situation with Mario and him. His commentary on the better drivers of his era framed them so it was easy for many of us to see how he measured up to them. My question is, since their careers overlapped, what are his thoughts on Rick Mears? I have my favorites, but in my mind Mears was as good as the speedway has ever experienced, even after his accident at Sanair.

Louis Du Lude

RM: Bobby wasn’t a big Mears fan right away because he thought The Rocket was lazy and liked playing with radio-controlled cars instead of learning about an Indy car. But 'ol Rick was playing possum and absorbed everything his teammate would allow, and I know Unser came to appreciate him as one of Indy’s best.

Q: Thank you for that great read on Uncle Bobby. I love reading about the old days now that I’m an old guy! Just great to hear the recollections of one of the greats. I would love to read more of these. Maybe you could get A.J. (that’s quite true), J.R., Al and maybe some from the late '70s, early '80s. I know people have told you but man, you have to write a book!

Jim, Rochester, MI

RM: I figured everyone needed something to smile about, so what better time to ring up Uncle Bobby? He cracks me up, and I’ve heard most of the stories 15 times. I’ve kept a lot of notes over the past 50 years so maybe someday a book can appear. Thanks for your support.

Q: Anyone gonna give Seabass a ride for the 500?

Dan, Lima, Ohio

RM: We’re all hoping he drives for A.J., but it’s all about finding sponsorship.

Q: I’m devastated by the destruction of the motorsports calendar. I attended my first 500 in 1966 and have been to most races since. It seems likely now that the Indy 500 will be cancelled or postponed, unless... what do you think of running the race on its original date with no fans, and moving the broadcast to pay-per-view? Hell, I’d pay $50 to watch it even though I already have three $120 tickets paid. BTW, I have no problem with the Speedway keeping my money until next year, or even applying it toward PPV. Roger might even make more net income doing it this way if planned and promoted well in advance. We are all so desperate for live sports programming it might set all kinds of records. So let’s at least run the race. Maybe you could plant this seed with Mr. P.

Gary Thompson, Indianapolis

RM: It’s interesting you suggested that, because a good friend of mine who tried to tip me off about Penske buying IMS called a couple weeks ago and said Indy would be run on May 24th with no spectators but on PPV. If you have a ticket, you could watch for free and your ticket money would go towards 2021 with a discount included. But NBC invested a lot of money to televise Indianapolis and IndyCar, plus it’s free for everyone with network TV, so that PPV theory isn’t going to fly.

Q: When will IndyCar face the elephant in the room – the Indy 500? The current virus situation makes it clear that the 500 cannot/will not be allowed to happen. Trying to stage the event without fans in attendance is a non-starter, as Marshall Pruett has stated, and even without fans in the seats the number of crew members would also prevent the race from being run on its traditional date. Now is the time to reschedule, if not cancel the event. Some may say that not running the 500 just can’t happen, but let’s be real here. The race can be cancelled and life will go on. Trust me. What are you and the others in the media going to do to pass time when the 500 is not run at the end of May?

Warbird Willie

RM: First off, Indy may get postponed, but I don’t see it being canceled. Now that the Summer Olympics are off, that four-week period in July-August could be a perfect fit for Indianapolis. I’m writing stories, doing videos and editing the Mailbag so I’m plenty busy, just like all our other writers.

Q: Apologies if I'm beating a dead horse here, but I have some ideas for getting the most out of the Month of May. I won't pretend I'm a pandemic expert, but anecdotally it doesn't seem realistic to "[protect] the public health while still conducting the 104th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge as scheduled on May 24." It would be a disservice to the fans, the city, and all involved to run the race half-assed, behind closed doors, or subject attendees to a virus that's likely not going anywhere anytime soon.

So here's my pitch: run the GP and the Indy 500 as the last two races of whatever season we can muster. Combine the GP weekend with the GT World Challenge event on the weekend of October 3-4 with the IndyCar races on Saturday and the 8 Hours on Sunday. Indy 500 practice will be Monday through Friday, qualifying on Saturday the 10th, with the 500 being run on Sunday the 11th. This way we give the virus ample time to die down, allow both the series and fans to plan accordingly, and give the season the ending it deserves.

Michael Hart

RM: Like we’ve said recently, I can’t see R.P. staging Indy without fans, so if its gets postponed then what’s the best time? Not September when every major sporting event has already been rescheduled, but maybe that four-week period when NBC was going to show the Summer Olympics. That might be perfect for the Indy 500 and road race, so stay tuned.

Right now, the only thing anyone can say with complete confidence about the 104th running of the Indy 500 is that it will be held in Indianapolis. Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: While people are bemoaning the postponement or cancellation of the first four IndyCar races of the year and speculating about the fate of the fifth one, the more obvious concern is the sixth race – the Indianapolis 500. Like most fans I have been highly disappointed by the loss of the early-season events, but as I watched everything else going on in the world, I came to accept it.

And now, as experts and pundits look forward with considerable pessimism, I find that I am already accepting of the prospect of the Indy 500 being scuttled this year. There is precedent for such a thing. As you of course know, the race was suspended during World War I, and again during World War II. While I do not intend to compare the challenge of fighting the coronavirus to the horrors of warfare, the common denominator is “the greater good.”

The Indy 500 is my Christmas morning. My year revolves around the race. My family knows that I will be available for no other activity – not a wedding, not a christening, not a funeral – on race day. But I will forego the 500 this year if it is in the best interests of everyone’s health to do so. And I’d rather see the 500 set aside than run in a compromised fashion. Mr. Penske and the others in charge of IMS and the NTT IndyCar Series need to know that I, and, hopefully, all other true fans of the sport, will support a decision made for the greater good. Let’s continue to hope that a cancellation is not necessary, but let’s be accepting of it if it is.

Bob in NJ

RM: Why would you think it’s going to be canceled? R.P. knows how important Indy is to the series, the teams, the sponsors, the fans and Indy’s economy and he’s going to make it happen – be it May 24th or later in the summer.

Q: There is a good possibility that the Indianapolis 500 could be the first big public event after all this is over. People will be craving anything sports-related at that point. Could be a massive television rating and give the 500 the bump it needs. Exciting to think about the possibilities.

John H.

RM: Yes it could, and I think The Captain is holding on as long as he can to May in case something changes for the good in the next few weeks.

Q: With the guidelines many states and federal governments are implementing, is the possibility of the Indy 500 being postponed greater that 50 percent? With the travel ban from Europe in place, it seems unlikely that Fernando Alonso will be able to participate in the 500 if held on Memorial Day weekend.

Frank V., Phoenix, AZ

RM: I imagine, considering they just canceled the Summer Olympics, but it may all depend on the next few weeks. And I think Fred could find his way here if the race goes off in May. Or July.

Q: Is it not realistic now that IndyCar might scrap the championship this year, and run the Indy 500 in September perhaps? If this happens, how are the teams supported financially to survive into 2021?

Paul Matthews

RM: I can’t answer that. Nobody can, because who knows how long this thing is going to last? But I think midsummer is the best chance if Indy gets postponed. And I can’t tell you which sponsors will be back for 2021 without knowing how many races they’re getting in 2020.

Q: OK, Robin, you are more of an insider on IndyCar than I will ever be. However, if the Indy 500 is postponed, you said there is virtually no chance Portland would move so Indy could be run on Labor Day weekend. Really? That race is still over five months away! You’re telling me people could not change their plans given that much time? And the IndyCar race scheduled before Labor Day weekend is on August 22 at Gateway. Two weeks before Labor Day.

In 1986 the 500 was rained out Sunday and Monday. They were supposed to run Milwaukee the next Sunday. Even given that short period of time, Milwaukee moved their race back one week so the 500 could run on May 31st. And I find it hard to believe that if Roger Penske calls the Portland people and asks them to move their race back one week, they would say, "Sorry Roger, we know the 500 is the cornerstone race of your series, it is the main reason most sponsors are involved in your series, we know it would be a three-day weekend just like Memorial Day weekend, but sorry Roger, find another date for your race." Just couldn't see that happening. I think for at least this year you would have to be flexible.

Rick Owens, Fort Wayne, IN

RM: The promoters of Portland already lost St. Pete, and I don’t think R.P. would ask they to move. Plus all the volunteers have likely scheduled their vacations to help, and fans have already rented hotel rooms and made plane reservations. The NHRA Nationals are also on Labor Day in Indianapolis, and I think The Captain would respect that tradition. Besides, if Indy is postponed, there are some inviting weeks in the middle of the summer when NBC will definitely some sports programming.

It's likely that IndyCar's annual opening-lap mess at Portland will play out on the Labor Day weekend again this year, regardless of what other date-shuffling goes on. Image by Levitt/LAT

Q: Professional motorsports is a very fragile endeavor, and a big question is who will survive and who will fall victim when we come out the other side of this. What teams, tracks, and events will survive, who will fail, especially financially? Most of our stakeholders don't have deep pockets. What happens if the Leaders Circle dries up? We are supported by discretionary dollars, which usually disappear first. Once an event is cancelled, will it be gone forever? If a bailout comes, do we get in line behind MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAA, et al, good luck? When we come out the other side we could see a much different landscape. This a big deal. What say you?

Jim Scott, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

RM: Jim, I flunked out of Ball State, and I think I pay attention to all things racing but how in the hell can I tell you which teams or races will survive? Why would the Leaders Circle dry up? I think Long Beach can handle its cancellation better than COTA or even St. Pete, because it’s got the city behind it and 45 years of tradition. And I imagine Team Penske and Ganassi can weather this storm better than Mike Shank or Ed Carpenter, but I don’t know what their contracts all say. A bailout for pro sports? Good lord, why would NBA, NHL and NFL be entitled to a bailout when waitresses and hotel workers are starving right now? Of course this is a big deal, but relax and let’s hope things get better in the next month or so.

Q: I love your Mailbag. I have been reading the people responding to the cancellations and non-refundable tickets. First, I'm not surprised with the business world. I think COTA is making a big mistake and I was thinking about attending possibly both Indy and F1 races there. I am reconsidering that now. I think that auto racing has a smaller crowd nowadays, and pissing off the fans who work hard for their money is a very unwise decision.

Even Indy is not like it was in the '70s. The Indy 500 this year will be my 50th, and it is very strange sitting and waiting to see where thing go. I normally have everything set at this time of year, but have put that on hold. I agree that Penske is far better than the Hulmans family for handling the unusual events taking place now. I hope to be watching my 50th Indy 500 at the Brickyard in May.

Scott Savre

RM: Scott, obviously you submitted this before COTA changed its policy so I’m hoping you will reconsider your plans if, in fact, COTA continues with IndyCar in 2021. But I think because of all the workers that have been laid off recently that more and more promoters will rethink their policies and refund everyone’s ticket money.

Q: COTA is automatically issuing refunds to those of us who purchased tickets for the race. As you have probably already heard, they are laying off personnel as well. Praying for financial stability for all those in the racing community from vendors, hospitality, public relations, race teams and fans alike.

Bruce Richardson, Highland Village, Texas

RM: Thanks Bruce. Yes it’s always troubling when tracks or teams start laying people off, and I hope COTA can come back strong in 2021. But refunding your ticket money was the right thing to do.

Q: When racing does resume, it just might be the right time for the IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader. I don’t know when or where, but when racing does come back it should be in spectacular fashion. Who knows, maybe now is the time to take back what’s been lost. Especially for IndyCar.

Ray Little

RM: Yes there might not be a better time, especially with postponements and everyone trying to squeeze in races. Again, with the Summer Olympics being canceled, those four weeks in July and August might not only be a good window for Indy, but also a doubleheader for NBC.

Q: I'm a huge fan that lives in the Northeast. I loved when IndyCar raced at Loudon, but that ended. Then a few shots at The Glen, and that ended. Now Pocono looks dead. Toronto is the only race I can get to, but who knows how long that will last? I did attend the 2002 Champ Car race in Montreal ,and what a great weekend it was! Place was packed every day! Any chance you think they will return there, because I know the place will fill up! Or any of the other tracks I mentioned?

Rick S.

RM: I know Jay Frye has talked to Montreal about the possibility of going back in 2021 or 2022, but IndyCar would need Bourdais (French-Canadian) to help ensure that good crowd returns. Haven’t heard a word about any of those other tracks.

Q: Wow! IndyCar testing postponed until May 10! That leaves just two weeks until my beloved 500! Also, with Roger P., now the owner of all things IndyCar and him being 83, what is the line of succession when he is unable to manage it?

George Owen

RM: You figure that Indy could be run in four days – two days of practice, qualifying and race – so R.P. could go as late as May 20. As for his age and health, he looks great and nobody works harder or longer days. He may outlive us all, but son Greg would likely take over the business and Tim Cindric would remain in charge of racing.

Q: Am I just too cynical, or might some of the owners actually be pleased about the cancellations of some races in the 2020 season? I'm thinking that the purses paid for running the races don't even cover the cost (or in some cases, even the tire bill) so no big loss there. And if the full-time teams still get their Leaders Circle payouts but have to work less hard for the money, what's the downside?

Chad R. Larson, Phoenix

RM: Well let’s see – a sponsor gives money based on the number of races, so if the season is cut in half, does that mean a $4 million sponsor becomes $2 million? We’ve heard that one team is already asking mechanics to take a 20 percent pay cut, and depending on how long this pandemic lasts, they likely won’t be the first or last team to have cutbacks. No, I would say everything about this mess is bad for IndyCar teams.

Since race teams' businesses are generally built around going racing, the current situation isn't helping anyone. Image by Levitt/LAT

Q: Since IndyCar is running the sim season, is there any way you can talk Mario into running the race? We need this, and even Michael in the race. Pass this alone to the man himself that we need this!

Rick from PA

RM: I will ask him if he’s interested, and I imagine he’d be game.

Q: iRacing…*spits on ground for effect* …  will be the death of real motorsports. That’s all I have to say. Mic-drop.

Trevor Bohay, Kamloops, BC, Canada

RM: Not the death, just a stop-gap to try and entertain fans until the real thing gets restarted.

Q: Love the idea of this iRacing race series. However, a little disappointed it won’t be on NBC. They have to be starved for programming. IndyCar could really use the exposure, too. NASCAR’s iRacing will be on Fox Sports 1. Do you know if NBC was ever approached?

Vincent Martinez, South Pasadena, CA

RM: Not to my knowledge, but the network isn’t going to air a computer race, and the IndyCar website is the perfect place for it. Here’s the release:

INDYCAR and iRacing, the world's premier motorsports racing simulation, are partnering to currently stage six virtual race events featuring a stellar lineup of current NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers and possibly some special guests beginning Saturday, March 28.Each race will be streamed live on indycar.com for the enjoyment of racing fans while the current 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is suspended through April as a result of the coronavirus situation. While indycar.com will serve as the primary live streaming source, there also will be secondary platforms to watch the virtual race events each week - INDYCAR's YouTube and Facebook Live as well as iRacing's Twitch. Each virtual race event, which will last approximately 90 minutes to two hours, will begin at 4 p.m. ET each Saturday through May 2.

Q: Sitting home and washing my hands, also using brake-clean spray – gets to those hard-to-reach spots  – thinking about NASCAR and IndyCar with their iRacing. To add some realism, how about a guy stationed at each iRacing set up with a big 2x4 so if a driver crashes, this person would hit them in the head with the 2x4 – that way they have some skin in the game! Just kidding! Saw the NASCAR iRace (Homestead) – was pretty cool – looking forward to IndyCar iRacing. My son is an iRacer (also karter, Kenyon Midget, Lucas Oil School of Racing) – was iRacing with some of the Road to Indy guys last night.

Tom in Northern Michigan

RM: I love your idea except instead of being hit with a 2x4. How about just an electric shock? That’s always been my gripe about fake racing – what are the consequences if you mess up? Racing is all about risk vs. reward but I’m glad your son is racing, for real and on the internet.

Q: I want to thank you for your clear and unequivocal reply to the suggestion that computer racing may be the way of the future after this pandemic situation is over. It will have to do it without my two cents.

Gary E., Dwight, IL

RM: I realize it’s entertaining for a lot of people and something to do in this time of non-stop boredom, but when FS1 puts it on TV like a real event... sorry, but I’m with you.

Q: I've read with interest the suggestions/proposals for the idle drivers to participate in some sort of Esport racing series during the current shutdown of real racing. My question is a simple one: what if the video games (let's call it what it is) draw higher television ratings than the actual IndyCar series? Your first instinct will be to dismiss this as nonsense. I submit that there are a lot of folks out there who will tune in Esports anything that wouldn't think of tuning in some car race. My son is one of them. We may be letting the genie out of the bottle here!

Bill Carsey, North Olmsted, OH

RM: You bring up a very interesting and valid point. Because there is such a captive audience sitting out there with nothing to watch in terms of sports, it’s very possible an internet race could out-draw a real one. And then how do you sell sponsors?

Q: In your opinion, which is more boring and why: sim racing or Formula E? This longtime fan has no interest in either.

David, Waxhaw, NC

RM: It’s a draw for me – I don’t care about either. They both bore me.

Q: Need to get the cost out of IndyCar and level the playing field – how about a spec shock package? IndyCar hands out a set of shocks for each car at the track – tuned to the type of track and that’s the shocks you use – sort of like the popoff valve in the turbo days. I understand the teams spend a ton on shocks. Someone said that the shock package was why Carpenter is so fast at Indy, which is very smooth, but not competitive at street courses – because they can’t get the shock tuning right for a bumpy street course

Tom in Michigan

RM: Not sure how the playing field can be much more level than it is now, and spec shocks were voted down by the owners a few years ago. Dampers are the one area where teams can get creative, and while it means nothing to the fans, the teams seem to want to keep it like it is.

Q: Just read the Mailbag. One more example of guys gutting it out I thought of – Buddy Lazier winning the 500 with a broken back! Recall him raising his arms and stretching his hands during late yellow flags to try to relieve some of the pain.

Rick K, S.D., CA

RM: Good call, Rick. Buddy was hurting all month but did a helluva job under painful circumstances.

Lazier wins the '96 Indy 500, and with it, a place on the official Mailbag 'Tough Guy' list. Image by IMS

Q: Like everyone else, I'm finding racing wherever I can. I just watched the 1981 500 on YouTube. We all the know controversy that followed and the cause of it. My question is; what argument did Penske use to uphold Uncle Bobby's win when it was obvious he passed under yellow?

John from Akron

RM: The USAC Appeals Panel voted 2-1 to reinstate Unser as the winner because they deemed the one-lap penalty too severe. Team Penske was fined $40,000. But the real issue was that USAC didn’t call the penalty when it happened, and waited until ABC pointed it out on television to act.

Q: I shop at a couple different Menards near Columbus, OH. Even worked at one just north of Columbus for a short time in the fall. Not one banner, poster, not one word, did I ever see, about the Indy 500. Wouldn't you want to pat yourself on the back and get free promotion and advertising? Generate more interest in the series? There's been cases where crashes happen and sponsors are, like, too bad about that, but look, our name was on TV for quite awhile. Win the race, seems like they missed an opportunity. Maybe I missed it....  I read all your columns, big Indy 500 and IndyCar fan. And you, too.

Brian Campbell

RM: That’s kinda surprising, because John Menard spent millions and millions of dollars trying to win Indy before he hooked up with Roger Penske. And Pagenaud was a good story and such a personable winner that I would have thought Menard’s would have blown it out. Very disappointing. You are right – opportunity missed.

Q: Watched the Juan Manuel Fangio documentary last night and noted that Johnnie Parsons and I think Bill Vukovich were listed as in the points for F1 back in the Fangio days. Also noted that Kurtis Kraft was the car. What’s the story on USAC guys pre-Mario running in F1? Also, were the Kurtis Kraft cars built for F1 or revamped USAC cars?

Gary, Anza, CA

RM: The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA F1 schedule back then, so Indy participants earned points towards the world championship. There were no Kurtis-Kraft F1 chassis, and the only time Indy cars ever raced against F1 cars was at Monza in 1957-58.

Q: Any chance you and MP could put together a virtual tour of the IMS Museum basement? Enjoy your work, keep the articles coming!

Holland, Mi

RM: Well, maybe I could take my little camera and do something, but MP has to stay close to home to take his wife to chemo treatments and the doctor. I’ll ask R.P. when all this madness clears up. Thanks for reading RACER.com.

Q: With no racing happening and news on the ravages of coronavirus getting repetitive, please delve into the past. When did you see your first Indy 500 and under what circumstances? Have you seen every one since then, and which was the best? Hoping to get to this year’s race, but not counting on it.

Anthony Jenkins, Mono, Ontario

RM: In 1958 my dad took me out to the race. We parked and walked across the golf course, walked up to the backstretch fence and watched the first 30 laps. We did that every May until he finally was able to get us tickets in 1964. So technically I’ve seen a part of 62 straight races, but only attended or covered 55 in a row.

Q: Can you please explain why the RACER site treats drag racing like a second-class citizen? Even Supercross stars get in-depth interviews. I was in the stands when John Andretti beat Joe Amato to win his first round of Top Fuel. When the Dover Cup race was the same weekend as Maple Grove, Joe Gibbs would load up his chopper and fly the cup drivers in to watch qualifying. When Pontiac was the official car of NHRA and IROC they had the pace cars there. Jimmy Spencer and Rusty Wallace raced each other. They both did long, smoky burnouts. Spencer was sleeping at the tree and Rusty won. I was lucky enough to see Rusty's last win at Martinsville.

When racing resumes, we need more crossover. A lot of drag racers dabble in dirt track racing. Motorcrossers are trying their hand in cars. All of us in general need to be more open and welcoming to other forms of motorsports. Except electric race cars. They should only race on the moon, where there is not enough oxygen for internal combustion engines to run. Be well, and wash your hands often

Bob DiMilla from Saugus, MA

P.S.  I am such a race fan that I have souvenirs from the Boston IndyCar race that never happened and was contested at the Glen – my second home.

RM: Over to RACER.com's Mark Glendenning:

Hi Bob. While RACER’s roots lie in road racing, we’re huge fans of forms of motorsport, drag racing included. One of my most fun weekends of 2018 was my trip to the NHRA finale at Pomona. The balance of coverage on the site boils down to resources (both financial and editorial), and the return we get on how we use them.

Covering any series is a massive undertaking, and one we’ve increasingly embraced over the past three or four years, when we’ve taken all of our F1, NASCAR and WEC coverage in-house to complement the exclusive IndyCar and IMSA content that we were already producing. There are very few outlets – particularly independently-owned ones – that have their own reporters on the ground at as many events around the world as we do. But in order to remain viable as a business, we need to get something back on those investments – commercial activity, significant web traffic or, ideally, both.

The Supercross content that you referenced is possible because Monster Energy recognizes the value in our reach and readership, and helps to support it. Similarly, the recent expansion of our off-road coverage has been facilitated by partners like Yokohama. If we could find support from within the drag racing universe, our drag racing content would be ramped up accordingly. We cover it to the extent that we currently can, but we would love to have more in the future.