Robin Miller's Mailbag for April 15, 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.

Q: I just read the IndyCar schedule update regarding Detroit, Laguna Seca, Iowa and IMS. They’re now looking to backload the schedule into the fall, seemingly unafraid of the big bad wolf of the gridiron. Now, we know this has everything to do with trying to add as much value as possible to partners and sponsors for as many events as they can, but it seems to me the previous regime might have been content to cram as many races in before Labor Day and roll out the red carpet for the NFL. Is the willingness to venture back into October something Penske Entertainment-related, or do you think Hulman & Co. would have been so bold under the same circumstances?

Dan W., Ft. Worth, TX

RM: This has everything to do with trying to outflank this pandemic, find a suitable date for the promoters, and get slotted into NBC’s menu while battling with baseball, horse racing and golf for the same things. There are only so many weekends available, and who knows when normal life is going to resume? It’s not a strategy, it’s a scramble to survive.

Q: Detroit double smoked? As I predicted in a prior note, Robin, IndyCar will kick off late June in Wisconsin, and I’m sticking with it! America’s national park of speed, Road America, is the perfect layout if social distancing is still requested (yeah, I know, a crowd of 50k at Texas can definitely socially-distance). Possibly restricted pit/paddock access, maybe limits on camping, no congregating near concession areas, but Elkhart Lake will get the party started! Come another 60-days of COVID-19 weariness, America will need Road America! You think Mr. Penske is circling the calendar for late June in Wisconsin?

Bradley J, Sussex, WI

RM: It would appear that late June has a better shot at opening the season than earlier in the month, at least in terms of allowing spectators, and Eddie Gossage has already said he’s got no interest in staging a race at Texas without any fans, so it could be Elkhart Lake.

When it comes to where and when the 2020 season will open, Bradley from Wisconsin's guess is as good as anyone's. Image by Motorsport Images

Q: When do you think the drop-dead date is for us to have any racing this year? I know that if the race season is canceled some of the smaller race teams in any of the series may not make it through this pandemic, but are there racetracks or venues that might not make it to next season without 2020 race revenues? Lastly, if there is going to be abbreviated race series this year, how will they decide which tracks or courses will get a race and which will not?

Rich, Keuka Village, NY

RM: I have no idea. If it didn’t start until August you could still get at least eight races run, but they key would seem to be whether or not spectators are allowed. That alone will likely determine the number of races. The IndyCar races are big tickets for Long Beach, Road America, Gateway and Mid-Ohio, but I don’t think any tracks would go away if the 2020 season was canceled.

Q: I have been watching many old races to get my fix during this time, from last season all the way back into the '90s in the heyday when I was just a kid (I'm 28 now). It's forcing me to make a list of races to go to in the next couple of years, and so far I have Gateway – which seems to be making itself a bucket list event – along with Road America and Mid-Ohio. I love that all those tracks have kept or regained their footprint in the series. I wish the Northeast could have kept theirs, but hey, can't win them all.

Any tracks you would like to see return? Also, I know Nazareth has been shut down and forgotten, but what was the story behind the closing? I think it would be cool if the Andrettis bought it and got it up and running again. That's just my fantasy, though.

Anthony Armendo

RM: I think we’d all like to go back to Cleveland, and Mexico City is a great layout. ISC closed Nazareth in 2004 and moved the grandstands to Watkins Glen and Michigan. When the property was sold in 2015 there was a clause in the contract that forbids racing on it, so I guess Richmond is your best bet.

Q: Just curious if there has been any discussion about ticket renewals for the 2021 Indy 500? They are typically due a couple weeks after the normal race date, which means we would be paying for 2021 in early June before we even see 2020 – if that even happens. Not that I won’t renew, but seems like chaos if 2020 was not held for some reason and then people have paid for two 500s.

Bruce in Houston

RM: Brother, they’re still trying to sell tickets for the 2020 Indy 500. No, I haven’t heard any discussions, but I would assume that if this year’s race would not be run then ticket holders would have the option to simply use that credit towards 2021.

Q: Thanks for publishing Mario's comments. I also enjoyed the interview with Uncle Bobby. At a time when we are having trouble finding a way to look forward, looking back through Mario's perspective was great! Looking forward to reading the ones from Kanaan, Johnson and Hendrick. Can you get Foyt to do one?

No surprise to you, but Andretti has been an amazing ambassador for racing, as outgoing and friendly as Richard Petty. Great to see someone that accomplished being so good with the fans. Had my picture taken with him at St. Pete a decade ago. My oldest daughter, Kristin, lived there two years ago, went to the race with me, and surprisingly loved the IndyCar race. Afterwards she asked if there was a place we could go and see some famous IndyCar racers up close. I took her to the hospitality area where the teams were entertaining, saw Mario near the fence, and he agreed to get a picture with Kristin. Afterwards, Kristin asked me if the picture was "Facebook-worthy." I told her that she wanted a pic with a famous IndyCar star, and there is no IndyCar racer more famous the Mario! She found that out when she posted it. Even had some IndyCar racers started following her on Instagram after that!

Jim Wilson

RM: Thank our editor Mark Glendenning for the idea to have guest mailbags, and Mario’s was a big hit, as expected. A.J. just did a big Q&A on his website (thank you Anne Fornoro) that was quite entertaining, and I talked to him on Easter and he’s bulldozing away in Texas but we might be able to talk him into it. Glad your daughter has become an IndyCar fan.

Q: I would love to see an iRacing event with racers of the past like Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, Bobby Rahal, Paul Tracy, and anyone else who might be interested. Any chance they would do it? That would be fantastic entertainment.

Mark Suska, Lexington, OH

RM: I imagine that Mario might be up for a little match race with Bobby Ray and P.T., but can’t imagine The Rocket wanting any part of it. He’s old school in every way, and I really doubt that iRacing would give him much of a thrill.

Q: In last week’s Mailbag, Jeff Stejskal asked “With IndyCar having its first virtual oval coming up next weekend, will drivers have virtual spotters?” and you replied, “God I hope not, because that will really be the final nail in the coffin for me.” Sorry to break it to you, but iRacing has a virtual spotter built in. You can also have a real person spot for you if they’re logged into the game. A lot of the NASCAR guys have been using their real spotters, and I believe some IndyCar drivers have too. You’re still racing in the “cockpit view” in iRacing so a spotter is necessary, especially on ovals.

Joey

RM: Thanks for the iRacing update for your out-of-touch-with-the-video-game-world reporter.

Q: Perhaps I missed the announcement, but who is going to decide where the last round of IndyCar iRacing will be on May 2? May I humbly put forth my short list of nominations: 1.) Nurburgring, the original Nordschleife  2.) Spa. 3.) Monza with both road & oval circuits  4.) Hermanos Rodriguez, original with the full Peraltada curve. 5.) Road Atlanta 6.) Zandvoort, original. 7. Paul Ricard, original.

Marc, Orange County, CA

RM: It will be selected by fans on a social media poll, and all those tracks should be in play.

Q: The new date for the Indy 500 means that for the first time in many years it does not conflict with a Formula 1 race. Any chance of seeing someone like, let’s say, Lewis Hamilton get a ride? Now that would be something.

Rick Eisenbeis

P.S. I just watched your video of Lloyd Ruby, and I met him at the race at Mt. Fuji. I was in the Navy and took leave so I could be there. He was a real nice guy to me. I sat next to him a nightclub there, and the club was passing around cards for all the racers there to sign, and Rube handed it to me to sign. I said I’m not with any car, and he said, just put my car number with your name. And yes, the best driver to never win the 500.

RM: I can’t imagine Hamilton wanting to do it, or Mercedes allowing him. Maybe with a proper test program some day after he quits F1, but that’s probably a long shot. Rube was about as genuine as they made people.

It's going to take more than the absence of a date clash for us to see Lewis rocking his shades in Gasoline Alley. Image by Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Q: Since the Indianapolis Grand Prix is on the same weekend as the Pennzoil 150 and the Hot Vodka 400 at the Brickyard (Brickyard 400), do you think that we will see any of the drivers compete in all three races?

Chris Fiegler, Latham, NY

RM: Not unless you can get Kyle Busch a ride. I think there’s a good chance Jimmie Johnson runs in two of them and makes his IndyCar debut.

Q: While I appreciate the optimism among many of the fans, I think it's extremely naive to think that sports will operate as we're used to until we have a large scale therapeutic and/or a vaccine. Knowing this, it's unlikely that Toronto will take place, and I think there is a more likely scenario than not that even the Indy 500 won't be run, or at least, not with the number of fans we're used to. Naturally then, my question is whether IndyCar is in touch with this reality, and are they ready to run races with no fans or very limited fans (e.g <5,000 or even 1,000)? I imagine it would be an economic loser overall, but at least it would keep the teams running.

Curiously quarantined

RM: I can’t imagine any track hosting an IndyCar race with no spectators, and the only reason NASCAR could do it is because it owns most of them. But Roger Penske understands all sides of this equation and he’ll do the right thing.

Q: If anyone would have an ear to the IMS Radio people, it’s you. How about for the month of May, IMS opens the vault on the 500 radio broadcasts for one month for free. Just stream it. It would pass time, for sure. WIBC used to do it for all night prior to the 500; one of the coolest evenings of the year. Can you help?

Heath Florkey, Dayton, Ohio

RM: I sent your request to Mark Miles and Doug Boles. I assume you would want to run it on IndyCar.com?

Q: OK, crazy question for crazy times. If the Honda two-seater were made race-ready, who would be your favorite chauffeur for 500 miles?

Curt, Columbus, Indiana

RM: Either A.J., The Gas Man or Hurtubise. But Sneva would probably crash, Herk would blow up and Super Tex would be smooth and smart to the end.

Q: Noticed you forgot to include Scott Pruett in the list of folks who drove both the Indy 500 and the Brickyard. Hope you are doing well, and that I still get a chance to meet you at Richmond this year.

Napalm Nick

RM: Thanks, I’m surprised he’s the only one I missed. A lot of people wrote and said A.J., but my understanding from the question that it was a driver that competed in both events while they were still current.

Q: When I read you thought the Novi’s finest finish was fourth at Atlanta in '65; my old mind went ‘no’. So I Googled to check if my memory was correct. Paul Russo and the Novi finished fourth in the 1957 500. That had to be that engine’s finest hour.

Bob Roser

RM: We were both wrong. Duke Nalon finished third in the 1948 Indy 500 and then escaped his fiery crash the next May after winning the pole position.

Q: Got looking through some old Floyd Clymer yearbooks, and if I am correct Paul Goldsmith is the oldest living Indy driver from the '50s (with A.J. being the other). How about running some "where are they now" stories on those guys still around from the '60s and '70s? I am always surprised that so many old-time competitors and former winners are absent from the festivities each year. I am sure a lot of us old timers would enjoy the stories.

Dave Seaton, Indianapolis

RM: Well that’s why I started the “Tough Guys” series a few years ago, and Goldy was one of my original subjects. And, yes, Goldy is 94 and still going strong.

Q: Robin, interesting thoughts on who to be holed up with during this coronavirus "rain delay”. While it is quite true that hanging with A.J. would certainly be an illuminating experience, my first choice would be Donald Davidson. Having listened to him on the radio, podcasts and meeting him in person, he never fails to amaze me. Time would pass very quickly.

Jim Mulcare, Westbury, NY

RM: Donald and Uncle Bobby are both entertaining as hell but require a mute button after a while, and A.J. is a pretty damn good storyteller.

Q: I saw Champ dirt cars at DuQuoin twice, and both were memorable – in ’66 when Bud Tinglestad got his only Champ Car win, and in ’72 when Jigger Sirois stole the show in a turbine car (finishing third after leading early). I remember the car had an Allison engine. Was there just one turbine dirt car? What do you remember about turbines on dirt?

Tom Hinshaw

RM: It was the same Jack Adams’ dirt car driven by Art Pollard and Jigger Sirois, and maintained by the one and only Howard Millican. Pollard drove at the Hoosier Hundred and talked about how tricky it was because of the throttle lag. Jigger did a great job and Lee Kunzman (who started on the front row with him) laughs about trying to out-brave him into Turn 1 at the start. It didn’t work.

Jigger Sirois's turbine dirt car had quite a history. Image by John Mahoney

Q: My question is more of a thought or suggestion. With today’s technology, I feel all drivers in any discipline should have to wear a specified heart rate monitor or some other device similar. It would be great for the safety team to have a real time data feed of every driver’s heart rate, oxygen levels, etc. I think fans would be fascinated.

Andy Brumbaugh, Columbia, SC

RM: I recall Derek Daly and Howdy Holmes wearing heart monitors in practice and qualifying, and it was pretty interesting to watch. Might be worth IndyCar looking at, so we’ll send along your suggestion.

Q: First, I want to thank NBCSN for the replays of Indy past... Last year’s Indy 500 was almost as exciting than it was watching live. What an amazing race! Also, the 2015 Sonoma race was great! I just couldn't remember how things ended, and found myself rooting for Dixon to pull it off. (He did.) Keep it up NBCSN, and I’ll keep watching. I would much rather watch a past race than the cartoon iRacing.

My question is, 2015 Sonoma, what ever happen to Pagenaud for stopping on pitlane? They said it was under review. He definitely blocked Newgarden from coming out of the pit, allowing Pag's teammate to leave unscathed. Newgarden even had to drive through Pag's pit and over the air hose just to get out of there.

Patrick, Seguin, Texas

RM: Good lord, I can’t remember what I ate for lunch, let alone answer something that obscure. There was no mention of it in any of the stories I found and Pagenaud finished 16th and Newgarden 21st, so I don’t think it had any affect on the outcome. [ED: According to Penske’s post-race release, Pagenaud had stopped before his box to avoid contact with Power and Newgarden. The delay dropped him from sixth to 20th in the running order at the time. Newgarden brushed his front wing against Pagenaud's car, but his real downfall that day came during his next stop. None of that tells you anything about race control's take on it, but hope it helps].