Robin Miller's Mailbag for July 15, presented by Honda Racing / HPD

Questions for Robin can be sent to millersmailbag@racer.com. Due to the high volume of questions received, we can’t always guarantee that your letter will be printed, but Robin will get to as many as he can. Published questions have been edited for clarity. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of RACER or Honda/HPD.

Q: I want to thank IndyCar, NBC, and the great people at Road America for putting on two of the finest races we’ve ever seen at this great track. I sat glued to my TV both days, and seeing the fans made me forgot about the stupid virus that has controlled our lives over the past five months. Race 1 was excellent, and it wasn’t a surprise to see Scott Dixon make his way to the front for another amazing win. Of course, the story of Race 2 is the rookies. O’Ward and Rosenqvist put on an amazing side-by-side show at the end. And all these young guys raced like veterans, with fast laps, bold passes, and very few mistakes. If Power isn’t careful, he may have a future in sports cars after Roger puts Palou in the Verizon car. Finally, I’m wondering whatever happened to the use of local yellows? They seemed to work with no issues back in the CART days and also in other series.

Rick Schneider, Charlotte

RM: I was just happy that NBC got a great finish after such a terrible start, and hope some people stuck around. There are still local yellows, but when cars are either disabled after a crash or stuck in the sand trap, a full-course yellow is always going to be necessary due to safety vehicles being on the track. Conor Daly's and Graham Rahal’s wrecks had to be cleaned up, and nobody should be allowed to be running at speed.

Q: What a fantastic Race 2 at Road America. Bravo to the young guns for an outstanding show. I can't help but wonder who will be the next driver Penske poaches from another team. Who was the last rookie driver Penske introduced to the series? Frustrating to see him steal talent from teams after they invest time to groom a young driver. Why doesn't Penske invest in the Indy Lights series like Andretti or Juncos by forming a team and promoting a driver to IndyCar? Don't get me wrong, his investment into IMS and the series is invaluable, but it's getting stale seeing Team Penske, Andretti or Ganassi win 17 of the last 20 Indy 500's.

Wylie McIntosh, Brownsburg, IN

RM: I guess you have to go all the way back to P.T., who only ran one race for Dale Coyne before being snatched up by The Captain, so technically he was a rookie. But that’s the way of the world – show talent and move up the ladder, and you can’t blame the driver or the team. I do think R.P. is planning something for Lights, and hopefully his team will be part of it for 2021.

Q: When was the last time you saw a race dominated by teenagers? That race sure beat watching the F1 parade and the taxi cabs in Kentucky.

Dave Thurston

RM: Probably a USAC midget race with Kyle Larson, Rico Abreu and Chris Bell, but the only true teenager we have in IndyCar right now is Rinus Veekay (19). Colton Herta (20), Pato O’Ward (21), Santino Ferrucci (22). Alex Palou (23) and Oliver Askew (23) are all kids that drive like veterans, and Felix Rosenqvist is almost an old man (28) by their standards. Herta and O’Ward have a racecraft that belies their ages, and that was on full display over the weekend. Veekay and Palou made the passes of the year at Road America, and the changing of the guard isn’t too far away.

Road America got the Mailbag seal of approval. Image by Peter Burke/Motorsport Images

Q: The race weekend at Road America put the F1 race at Austria to shame with the performance of Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist, who chased down Pato O'Ward with two laps to go and scored one of the best first career race wins since Jacques Villeneuve did it at the track in 1994. I could see a major youth movement in IndyCar as drivers such Will Power, Simon Pagenaud and Takuma Sato’s careers start to come to an end. I could see drivers Alex Palou, Jack Harvey, Santino Ferrucci become candidates to race at Penske, Andretti or Rahal in the next few years. Agree? And even though Scott Dixon may win his sixth IndyCar title, once he either ties or break A.J. Foyt's career wins, I believe Chip Ganassi will let him go and will focus on Rosenqvist and Marcus Ericsson.

Also, I read that Penske is keen for more IndyCar/NASCAR crossover race weekends in the next couple of years. Sounds good, but he ought to have IndyCar/IMSA and get back to having more road course races at Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta (if they can get the track owner to extend the run-off area), Mont Tremblant and Mosport Park. Keep COTA an add the Utah circuit, since it's now see a lot of racing events from the NASCAR ARCA race series.

Alistair F.

RM: I think R.P. is keen to run Scott McLaughlin full-time in an IndyCar in 2021 and he might take a hard look at Palou, but Jack is probably a long shot. Ericsson did a nice job all weekend but Chip will only focus on him as long as he brings sponsorship. Felix got some job security at Road America and Dixie probably has at least another two to three years with Ganassi if he wants it.

Q: Necessity is the mother of invention. The twin bill at Elkhart Lake was fantastic and needs to stay that way. You’ve said it yourself – the racetrack must stay occupied throughout the race weekend to keep fans interested. What better way than using the first race as a long test instead of practicing for 45 minutes?

Now, what works at a street race or a road course may not work on the ovals, but Belle Isle shouldn’t be the only doubleheader on the schedule. I realize TV time was available because the stick and ball sports are still out, but now is the time for this series to seize the moment while the others are away. I asked you about the possibility of more doubleheaders earlier this year before the pandemic.

I think St. Pete should be a double since it’s the season-opener and is well attended by people from all over the country that want to see racing after a long winter. At that time you didn’t think it would work at the track or for TV. Has your opinion changed after what you saw at Elkhart Lake?

Ray Little

RM: I’ve always favored going back to twin 125s at Texas or Iowa or Gateway, and I love the IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader concept, and I think we’ll see more of it in 2021. The doubleheaders became a necessity this year because of the pandemic and canceled races, and I think they could work at certain places. I thought Road America was a smashing success in terms of great racing, intensity and giving the fans their money’s worth, so I’d like to see it return as a doubleheader.

Q: Wow! What a weekend! Two great races at a great track. Gave me an idea: IndyCar should rotate doubleheaders at Road America, Mid-Ohio and Barber. Thoughts?

Vincent Martinez, South Pasadena, CA

RM: I think it works at all three depending on the support races.

Q: I noticed many of the fans at Road America last weekend failed to practice effective infection control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Many arrived at the track without masks. Although provided with masks upon entering, many refused to wear them once inside. What is wrong with these people? They obviously don’t care about their fellow human beings, but they also do not care about the remainder of the 2020 NTT IndyCar season. The NBC camera crews did a good job of showing groups of fans around the track. There were places where about half the fans had masks and the other half did not. Those that did not, didn’t even have the decency to display embarrassment and shame.

Epidemiologists will be watching carefully in the next 14 days to determine whether there is a COVID-19 spike among those who attended this event. If there is a spike, what do you think are the chances of the Indy 500, or any other race for that matter, being permitted to run with fans present? I have friends attending Iowa next week, and they are taking extraordinary measures to protect their fellow fans as well as the remainder of the 2019 IndyCar season. Why can’t other IndyCar fans be this conscientious?

I work at a hospital, and two of my colleagues have contracted COVID-19 and died during this pandemic. I have lost count of how many patients we have lost. I am a social conservative and can tell you from personal experience – this is not a hoax, this is not a Republican or Democratic or right vs left issue. It’s about reality.

Gary Sugg, Glendora, CA

RM: I wasn’t at Road America, but I did see several shots of families sitting on the grass by their trucks or tents without masks and well-spaced from others, so since it was outdoors that didn’t bother me. If there were 20,000 people crammed into a grandstand sitting side-by-side without a mask that would be of more concern. I imagine Indy is at the mercy of COVID-19 statistics, and we’re still a month away, but I know R.P. is still full steam ahead. I don’t profess to know anything except it seems like people outside at a gathering have a lot better odds than people inside, so maybe it’s made race fans a little bolder.

Q: I have to say I'm a bit upset about the second race at Road America. Will Power. For the life of me, I can't understand how Power, after taking out two cars on one lap, was given the penalty of going to the back of the field. Under yellow! Furthermore, it allowed him to make an out-of-sequence pit stop that clearly benefitted him. Wouldn't a 30-second stop-and-go be more appropriate? Second, after all these years of watching IndyCar, I guess I never realized the amount of concrete and guardrail around RA. Graham Rahal's incident could have been really bad. How about some SAFER barriers at critical points on that track? Thanks Robin. I really enjoy the Mailbag and your usual candor.

Ray G.

RM: I think the options for avoidable contact are drive-throughs, stop-and-hold or being relegated to the back of the field depending on what Race Control deems the severity or intent. And obviously they didn’t feel Power’s punt was preconceived or intentional. Rahal hit in a rare place, but I’m sure Road America will look into a better solution.

Q: The green flag debacle of Race 2 was clearly the fault of the IndyCar starter who waited much too long to throw the green flag. By the time he did, the field was packed up like a parking lot. There was no way a field of turbocharged cars with turbo lag and just feet from each other could accelerate in sync with each other. Yes, Will punted Ryan, but it became a racing incident as soon as the starter created the situation. And I was most disappointed to hear the otherwise excellent broadcast trio suggest that Power pushed Rahal off the track. Yes, Power touched wheels with Rahal, but it was Rosenqvist who then hit Rahal and put him off the track. Rahal was still in control before Rosenqvist hit him.

In my view, it was Rosenqvist, if anyone, who deserved a penalty for unavoidable contact. One wonders if the announcers pinning it on Power actually influenced the stewards. Speaking of the broadcast team, I always appreciate the “through the field” analysis. That seems too slick to be impromptu. Does someone script that for the whole team just before they launch into it?

Dale Murray, Mount Joy, PA

RM: It appeared the start was very slow and that backed everyone up, so not sure how that’s the flagman’s fault. It’s tricky coming up that hill with 23 drivers on each other’s gearbox, and Saturday may have been one of the best first laps of racing I’ve ever seen. It looked like Power pushed Graham wide after a dive bomb into the corner, but not sure how much actual contact there was until he and Felix got together. As for the “through the field,” each pit reporter makes some notes when they find out who they have, but it’s off the cuff and not scripted at all, and Dave Burns and Hinch did a good job.

Masks were common but not universal when IndyCar reopened its doors to fans last weekend. Image by Phillip Abbott/Motorsport Images

Q: Why is it that NASCAR can push and shove guys out of the way at 200mph, but Power can't get away with a racing incident(s)? And why is it that Paul Tracy loves to tattle on Power? He has done this many times, and I'm getting a little tired of "Crash" Tracy's hopes for a penalty on Power. Thank God Diffey and Bell are in there to provide some professional reasoning.

TJ Spitzmiller, Palmetto, FL

RM: Pretty simple to see why stock cars can lean on each other and open-wheel IndyCars can’t have much contact, but I thought last weekend was some of the closest, hardest and best racing I’ve watched in a long time. I don’t think Will got penalized for Graham, and I also don’t think he meant to knock RHR into the tires and out of the race, but he did. And his punishment was about as light as possible. I know P.T. likes Willy P., but the announcers are conditioned to question situations, and sure, it’s ironic that The Thrill From West Hill jumps on drivers for being overly aggressive. But he has nothing against Power personally.

Q: While Scott Dixon is driving like a man possessed, Power is driving like a man out of control. Is his contract up for renewal? I don't want to think he's a dirty driver, but he's giving me cause.

John from Akron

RM: This is the final year of Power’s contract, so he might be pressing a little bit with Scott McLaughlin in the back of his mind. But Will has never been a dirty driver, just forceful sometimes.

Q: I have two short questions for you. Is Scott Dixon so good that he could go to a lower-level team and win some races? Can you ask a few drivers what they do with the red Firestone hats they get on the podium?

Eric, London, OH

RM: Could Dixie take Mike Cannon or Chris Simmons and go to A.J. Foyt and win a race? I think so, as long as he got in some testing and the pit stops are up to snuff. I think Sebastien Bourdais and Mike Colliver were going to elevate Tex’s team based on their COTA test, but sadly their time together was nearly eliminated by the pandemic. Colliver and T.K. will be together at Indy so that’s encouraging. The drivers usually throw their Firestone hats to the fans surrounding victory lane.

Q: It seemed like IndyCar was slow to throw the yellow on Lap 1 of Race 2. Graham Rahal could have avoided that wreck if the yellow came out earlier. Any idea what caused that delay? Maybe deliberation about a local yellow with such a long track at Road America?

Mike B., IL

RM: I think Race Control wants to stay green if entirely possible on a road course, and maybe there was a two second delay in going yellow to see if Hunter-Reay could continue, but not sure that would have saved Rahal. At that point everyone up front was racing hard and trying to move up, so not sure anyone was looking for or expecting a full-course caution unless they saw the RHR/Power tangle.

Q: I consider myself a rational adult and usually don't get too animated watching the races. But I was turning the air blue after the embarrassing display by a completely out of control Will Power. Enough with this clown. How many thousands of dollars in wrecked equipment and dashed hopes does he have to cause before there is sufficient punishment given out? The "penalty" was a joke, and if that's all the rules allow, then the rules need to be rewritten. Does Race Control not have the authority to sit a driver out for an event, or several? If they do, they'd better exercise that option before Power seriously injures himself or others. Graham Rahal was extremely lucky to not have been severely injured as a direct result of Power's recklessness, and Ryan Hunter-Reay's day was ruined as well. This weekend was a clear demonstration of why Scott Dixon is a great driver, and why Power will never attain that level of accomplishment.

Steve C., Ithaca, NY

RM: I’ve seen a lot of bonehead moves in my 51 years of covering racing, but I wouldn’t put Power’s in the top 200. He evidently thought he had a shot at clearing RHR, and hit him in the left rear and ruined his race. It was a mistake, even though Will said he didn’t think he should be penalized. And it wasn’t malicious or intentional, but he did K.O. one of the guys with a chance to win, so what is Race Control supposed to do? Yes it can park a driver for rough driving (Paul Tracy missed the 1999 season opener), but Power has been one of the fastest and best the past decade, so let’s not run him out of town just yet.

Sure, he has 35 career wins, 52 poles, a championship and an Indy 500. But he had a mixed weekend at Road America, dammit! Image by Michael Levitt/Motorsport Images

Q: Right upfront I want to say that I have never liked Will Power. I will not deny he is fast, and he is a series and Indy 500 champion. At Road America's doubleheader, he threatened to wreck Scott Dixon in Race 1 if he challenged him for the lead, then drove like a maniac when Dixon did exactly that. In Race 2, he wrecked RHR at the first corner and caused Graham Rahal to have a massive accident after what Paul Tracy called a "hip-check" on that same first lap. Then, he had a massive shunt all by himself and was lucky to continue the race with a relatively minor penalty.

My question is rather simple: is Will Power a malicious driver, or is he just plain dumb? He comes across as rather simple-minded in his interviews, and from the comments, it would seem the other drivers have a similar opinion about him. I'm surprised that Penske continues to employ him as there are much better, younger and less controversial drivers available now. Maybe it's time for Power to go walkabout...

Rob, London, ON

RM: A lot of people misconstrue Will’s personality as aloof when in fact, he’s just kind of quiet. And he’s a good guy with a dry sense of humor. He’s neither malicious or dumb behind the wheel, but every now and then racers get a little over-aggressive and it bites them. But he hasn’t earned 37 wins and 57 poles because he’s lucky or a dirty driver. He had a bad first lap at Road America, that’s all.

Q: What has gotten into Will Power? My friend asked for my take on him Saturday and I said he was very aggressive, unlike seasons past. He thought he was too aggressive. Well, after seeing his new “aggressiveness” on Sunday, I believe he successfully passed his NASCAR audition! He punts RHR into a frightening shunt, then nearly takes out Rahal, and is assessed a drive-through penalty, which he did while still under the yellow! I thought penalties were to be served only after going back to green? Is his contract coming to its end, and do you think he is feeling desperate to prove himself still viable on the team?

He is one of his generation’s finest IndyCar drivers, mostly while being a nice, but competitive racer, and it appears that he has adopted the “no more Mr. Nice Guy” mantra. He has nothing to prove in motorsport, and I certainly don’t want him to hurt himself or other drivers. I was never a die-hard Power fan because he drove for Penske (I love The Captain now!) and seemed a bit aloof, but re-evaluated my feelings for him, and was even pulling for him last year! Certainly, he is closer to a sports car career but is still a fast, talented driver. I just hate to see him jeopardize his legacy.

It was great to see fans at the track, but watching Felix Rosenqvist going through all his post-race photos with that stupid mask on made me nauseous! He wasn’t near anybody!

Dan in CA, but moving to AZ soon!

RM: Well, he was two seconds away from winning Saturday’s race at Road America (Dixon beat him out on the last pit stop), and comfortably ahead at IMS before stalling after his first pit stop, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with him. He may be pressing a little because Ganassi is 4-0 and Team Penske is all about winning and it’s his contract year, but it’s still early. I wouldn’t bet against him.

Q: What a great Race 1 at Road America. Great showing for Alex Palou, and No. 3 for the year for Dixie! My comment/question for you Robin pertains to the foam signs placed on the grass that effectively took two cars out of contention (OK... Marco is never in contention anyway). Given limited crowd attendance on site, why not just superimpose those multiple signs electronically for the TV coverage? This would satisfy the sponsor and not create an obstacle if a car goes off track?

Pongo in SoCal

RM: They’re foam signs, you said it, and they didn’t knock Rossi and Marco out of the race, but I imagine it’s a question for Road America.

Q: Crazy to see just how dominant Scott Dixon is right now. Starting to feel like F1 out there. That leads me to two questions: Did Dixie ever get a fair shot at going to F1? Lewis Hamilton and Dixon in the same race with equal equipment—who’s your pick?

Ben Parker, New Palestine, IN

RM: Dixie tested for one day at Paul Ricard in a Williams-BMW and for two days six weeks later at Barcelona and wasn’t far off Ralf Schmacher’s pace, but wasn’t offered a drive. So I’m not sure I’d call that a fair shot. I’d take Dixie at Indy and Mid-Ohio, and Hamilton at Silverstone.

Q: Usually don’t do this kind of thing, but had to ask. I mean, come on, we both know Dixon and his team are probably the best at about everything less qualifying (and he’s pretty much always up there). He just doesn’t get the respect he deserves (and I bet he loves it for himself and his family, because from what I’ve seen that’s the kind of guy he is) does he? I was lucky enough to be a committee chairperson for the RCA championships back in the early 2000s. And I was even luckier enough to get to hang out in the player lounge. I never intruded or asked for autographs or anything like that, but it was pretty cool to see how athletes live and handle themselves. Of course there were some that I preferred to be around than others, but that’s the world. Scott Dixon always seemed like he’d be one of those guys that you’d be able to talk to. Anyways, he’s a living legend, and I’m lucky enough to have been able to have witnessed it.

Shane Dusenbury, Shelbyville, IN

RM: I think all current drivers and teams respect the hell out of him, and the little full-time media left that still cover IndyCar realize he’s probably the best of the past 25 years. But it terms of the Foyt/Andretti adulation, that will never happen, and that’s fine with him. But he’s as good a person as he is a racer.

Q: After the first four races of the season, Rossi finds himself behind again because Andretti has been unable to provide him a car that gives him a chance to win. Do you think that Alex would have won a driving title by now if he were with Penske or Ganassi?

Doreen Wood, New Jersey

RM: Not really sure his slow start can be blamed on the team when it appeared the mechanical issues he encountered at Texas and IMS weren’t their doing. He struggled Saturday at Road America, but recovered Sunday and Colton and RHR have been right up front, so Andretti is far from hopeless. Hard to answer your question because the Big 3 all take turns at the front, and Rossi hasn’t led a lap since last year at Road America, but it’s only a matter of time.

Dixon only had limited seat time in the Williams in 2004, but his times stacked up well against the benchmark set by Ralf Schumacher. Image by Spinney/Motorsport Images

Q: I was just wondering what is the story behind the AMSP team? It's just that every time I read anything about them, it seems like it's more SP and less about McLaren. Please tell me how much is really McLaren?

Lenny Mishik, Fairview Pk, OH

RM: Well, it is Sam Schmidt’s building and original team with a Arrow and McLaren partnership, but not really sure what you’re referring to in terms of reading about them. RACER quotes Zak Brown as much as Sam, and Taylor Kiel is the team director based in Indy so naturally he’s going to be the go-to guy for interviews and quotes. McLaren had a big hand in hiring Pato O’Ward and Oliver Askew, so I think it’s pretty satisfied so far.

Q: How much longer do you think Marco Andretti – a team owner – will allow his driver to gravely underperform before he pulls the plug and signs someone who can hustle what is arguably top three equipment to the front of the grid? As he is often qualified at the back of the grid, he seems to never get near the front even using alternative pit strategies, tire choices, etc. He's not beating Indy Lights rookies in lesser equipment. I fear he's acquired the stench of King Hiro... Whaddya think sir?

Brett, DFW, Texas

RM: You are a first-time writer and I appreciate your interest so I wanted to print your letter, but I’m going to put a moratorium on Marco questions after yours like we did MIS, Milwaukee and iRacing. I have no clue as to why he’s so uncompetitive, but he can’t qualify and that’s doom nowadays. He’ll quit when he feels like it, and it’s got to be so humbling for him right now that I can’t imagine wanting to continue for many more years at this pace. The puzzling thing is that he’s shown speed, car control and racecraft, and Andretti Autosport is one of the Big 3.

Q: Great weekend at Road America. There are tons of questions I could ask you, but I’ll just ask two. How relieved was James Hinchcliffe that Rosenqvist passed O’Ward? I know he’s a pro, but what an uncomfortable scenario that would have been for Hinchcliffe to interview his replacement. Also, do you think RA and IndyCar took a look the spot where Daly went off? Those tire barriers definitely need a little something different after watching them grab Conor’s car. A little stronger wrap, or different material maybe?

Eric Z, Lancaster, NY

RM: I don’t think it would have bothered Hinch. He’s got nothing against Pato or Oliver, his gripe was with Sam and how he was treated. I imagine he’s still got friends at SP he was happy for, and racing is a cruel business, but he’s moved on. As for the tires and wall that Rahal hit, I’m sure IndyCar and RA will take a look at both before next year rolls around.

Q: I’m not sure if this has been covered in prior Mailbags, but how good is James Hinchcliffe in the pits as a reporter? I think he’s been outstanding. Seems extremely polished for being so new.

Brandon Stevens, CA

RM: OK, a little background. Hinch and I worked together at SPEED a few years ago and he co-hosted WIND TUNNEL with me one night. After the second commercial break one of the cameramen said: “Hey Miller, he should be the host and you should be the guest, he’s a lot smoother than you are.” I agreed, and predicted right then that when he quit driving James would be a star in television because of his personality, delivery and ease in front of a camera. I asked if I could be his valet after he made it big with NBC, but he said he’d get back to me. He was splendid over the weekend.

Q: Hinch is a natural in that broadcast role. Obviously very prepared, good insights into what the teams/drivers are experiencing, and seemingly comfortable at it. I want to see him racing again, but he seems like a good fit in broadcasting at some point in the future? Please thank NBC for giving him this opportunity. I didn't hear much about the new cooling ducts, but I also didn't hear much about the heat. Did the additional duct make a big difference, or was the cooler weather a bigger factor?

Tom Pate, Macomb Twp, MI

RM: I already thanked them, and I do think Hinch will be a hit in the booth whenever that time comes. The cooler weather helped more than anything from what I heard, but at least the drink bottles were moved to keep them cool.

He's got skills. Image by Joe Skibinski/IndyCar

Q: I’m having a hard time getting used to Rossi’s new livery. Has NAPA left, or have they simply reduced their support for Alexander?

David Kincaid

PS: Please tell Hinch he’s no Robin Miller but his television debut at RA was very strong.

RM: AutoNation and NAPA are sharing sponsorship this season, and Alex always mentions them both in his interviews, You are correct, Hinch is no Robin Miller – he’s much better.

Q: I read about the guy who said he spent two hours on the phone and 97 calls to get tickets to Iowa. I spent five minutes going to their website to order my tickets, which was very easy. I am estimating that they are only selling about 20% of the grandstand seats based on what I am seeing available online. I saw an example of one section that still has the most available seats, and the pattern and spacing where there are two rows empty between each of the sold seats. They are also selling berm area seating that is 8’x 8’ for up to four people. Overall, it looks like Iowa has a pretty good plan of proper spacing.  We will find out on race day.

Scott Thompson, Elkhorn, NE

RM: I’ve heard they have a good map for spacing and it will be a template, or at least a trial run, for Indianapolis. I would imagine if they had 10,000 they would be thrilled. Thanks for the info.

Q: At this point, what are the odds of Mid Ohio, Iowa, and Laguna Seca allowing spectators?

Mike Talarico, Charlotte, NC

RM: Well Iowa is allowing them this weekend, and you can buy tickets to Mid-Ohio right now at midohio.com, but not sure about Laguna Seca.

Q: With Roger pursuing Ferrari for the third engine manufacturer, which team(s) to you see switching to Ferrari? Penske owns a stake in Ilmor, the Chevy engine supplier. A second item is at Road America, Rahal had a strategy go wrong when the fueler couldn’t get the probe in. I believe this is the third time in a year that has happened. Does the fueler or the equipment need to be replaced?

Frank, Phoenix, AZ

RM: No idea which team Ferrari would go with, but I can predict it would likely be one of the Big 3 but probably not R.P. since he is the only reason Chevrolet is in IndyCar. Of course, as smooth as The Captain is, he could probably convince GM that letting him run a Ferrari was great for the overall profile of the series and talk them into letting him. Graham had the perfect strategy -- he went a lap longer than Josef Newgarden and likely was going to make the undercut and keep the lead but fuel probes (if they were the problem) have been troublesome for a long time, so I would not necessarily blame the fueler.

Q: Here's the inevitable question or two or three about the sharing of race dates with NASCAR and IndyCar: What's the benefit for IndyCar to be the sideshow for NASCAR, if any? And how long will it be before the two sanctioning bodies decide that it's time to make IndyCar (and yes, I know this has been talked about before) just another NASCAR division? After all, NASCAR does own IMSA, so why not sell out to NASCAR for the "betterment" of IndyCar – a more consistent schedule and access to ovals, etc. – and dominate American racing?

Jake, Los Angeles, CA

RM: Let me give you an example. Let’s say IndyCar and NASCAR Cup cars share next July 4th on the road course on NBC. It would draw more people in person and watching on television than anything I can think of, so why would that be a sideshow? Both series are struggling to get fans at ovals, so a twin bill at Richmond or Texas might also be in the cards. Would The Captain consider selling IndyCar to NASCAR? Maybe because his real interest and focus is on IMS.

Q: My suggestion to yourself and anyone else who thinks the Cup Series should race at the IMS road course is that you should have your meds checked. This last race was fine. It was compelling. It would be even more so without stages. Suggesting the Cup Series run the road course at IMS because they don’t ”put on a good show” or the races “are not competitive” would be like suggesting the Colts play the Patriots in soccer in Foxboro because when they play New England at home they don’t put on a good show and they are not competitive.

Don Anderson, Oak Park, IL

RM: Well Don, if it was compelling it’s the first time in a long time the Brickyard 400 was associated with that word, because it’s usually a snoozefest. It had an exciting finish because of a late restart, but how anyone can watch all that droning around is beyond me. On the other hand, the Xfinity race on the IMS road course was the best of the weekend, and Sonoma and The Glen are always entertaining for Cup because the drivers are hustling and showing their skills.

Q: With the completion of the first IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader at IMS complete and rumors circulating that NASCAR might race on the road course at Daytona, plus considering that they likely will not be granted a quarantine waiver from the New York Gov. for Watkins Glen, do you see a possibility in a few years down the road of a possible NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader on the Daytona road course? NASCAR and IndyCar shared the site of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Maybe it's time for them to share the "World Center of Racing"?

Kevin, North Carolina

RM: God, I hope not, and I doubt it. I think there are much better options for a doubleheader on a road course, but NASCAR gets a great turnout at Watkins Glen so it doesn’t need any help there, and maybe the Roval in Charlotte could be considered. But Road America or Mid-Ohio would be my choices.

Q: I am not a fan of these start/restart zones, especially on road and street courses. IndyCar needs to let the leader dictate the pace entering the final turn at the latest. Paul Tracy said during Road America Race 1 that back in the day, the leaders would pick up the pace as they came out of Canada Corner.

Rob Peterson, Rochester, NY

RM: So you’d rather see the leader take off that early and leave everyone behind instead of waiting to the main straightaway where a lot of the passing takes place on a restart? Sorry, I disagree.

Q: Watching Road America while listening to the talk around damper (shock) setup, or about teams changing the brand of dampers in the off-season (Carlin now using Penske shocks), I had an idea. Since the dampers are a big deal in making up deficits in speed and cost a lot but aren't visible to the fans, couldn't IndyCar mandate that teams list their brand of dampers on the car? Maybe on the black floors outside of the main cockpit or near the wheels/tires? It would give the damper arms race more public visibility and would promote the companies involved.

Nick, Wisconsin

RM: I don’t know Nick, that seems like a stretch. How many people would actually care if you had different dampers on different corners? I guess you could do it if those companies put up some decent money for using their product or a year-end fund, but I don’t see it.

Dampers at dawn. Image by Motorsport Images

Q: What do you think about the new lift installed at the Speedway for the winning car? I thought it was kind of cool, but then seeing it in action it seems to take some of the spontaneity out of the moment. Also among the improvements, I see the men’s room troughs were replaced with new ones, and thought an old one would be a hell of an addition to the Man Cave.

Tom Corso, Rancho Mirage, CA

RM: It was done for the fans so they could see the winner as they saluted him so that’s cool, but I imagine those old pissers have long since been destroyed.

Q: I will never forget seeing Rick Mears running the original "Roval" - the old configuration of Laguna Seca! Please, please talk about that track during your coverage at the 'Seca doubleheader! Speaking of high-speed runs, I am curious how the drivers are like having less helmet buffeting because of the new aeroscreen? I notice a lot less turbulence during the in-car camera shots.

Jeff Eliseo

RM: The first turn was badass, and I just hope there’s a Laguna Seca to talk about this season. I think the drivers like less buffeting, but the tradeoff was the cockpit heat, which wasn’t so nice, but hopefully the improvements they made for RA worked.

Q: As a fellow old-timer, I think I know the hardest two jobs in IndyCar. Keeping the faith for team Foyt, and whomever has to sell sponsorship dollars for them. Also known as no progress nor luck. Hoping for progress and luck for T.K. at Indy. I’m with dad and son Foyt always, but it’s very frustrating. Can only imagine how they feel. Can’t imagine IndyCar without the Foyt name attached to a car. Gosh help us Foyt-loyal geezers!

Ron Carbaugh, Eaton, Ohio

RM: I imagine it does test one’s loyalty, but the memories probably keep guys like you going. ABC Supply was a great sponsor but is only around for Indy now and finding money isn’t easy for guys running up front. But thankfully A.J.’s legend keeps some companies interested, and I can’t imagine IndyCar without him, either. Hoping T.K. and Mike Colliver can find some magic at Indy.

Q: I remember watching David Empringham throw a Formula Atlantic around at Long Beach – his car control skills were amazing. Disappointing he never got a ride in CART. Any insight? He was probably more talented than some of the regulars. What ever happened to David and his racing career?

Dion Johnston

RM: He won back-to-back Atlantic championships and then the Indy Lights title, but the Player’s/Forsythe roster had Greg Moore and then added Patrick Carpentier in 1998 so I don’t think Empringham ever got shot with the “Canadian” team. And strangely, nobody else tried to hire him. He and Lee Bentham were both excellent racers and champions but got passed by, and after driver coaching David started racing sports cars in 2001 and continued for the next decade.

Q: For years I have been searching for the publication I once read that stated a Lotus super team for 1968 that featured Jimmy Clark, Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart all signed to drive in the upcoming 1968 Indianapolis 500. The 1967 500 was an embarrassment for Lotus and Chapman wanted to put them back on the map, along with Andy Granatelli’s help and STP’s money and the new Lotus turbines. Well ahead of their time in design features, I feel. In fact, there is a photo in one of my Indianapolis 500 history books of Jimmy Clark standing next to the turbine wedge car with Colin Chapman and Granatelli after he tested it in March of 1968. Therefore, I know this story has teeth.

I have read where Stewart was injured in a F2 crash (broke or fractured his wrist) and we all know Jimmy Clark was tragically killed also at an F2 race in Hockenheim, Germany. Was the supposed Lotus super team a myth, or was it true? Chapman cut bait after Clark’s untimely death, leaving Granatelli to shoulder the load. Joe Leonard was the substitute driver for Clark and Art Pollard was the substitute driver for Stewart as Mike Spence (who was testing the turbine) was killed at Indianapolis in practice. I marvel at the “what if” for those 1968 turbine cars had one of them won.

Greg Ludlow, Baltimore, MD

RM: From IndyCar author/historian Rick Shaffer: "They wanted Parnelli to drive the '67 turbine in '68, but when he saw the new Lotus wedge turbine he politely declined. My understanding is that two of the turbines were entered by Team Lotus and would have been assigned to Clark and Hill, their F1 drivers. STP got the other two entries and I think JYS was signed to drive with Greg Weld. Then Clark gets killed April 8 at Hockenheim. A couple of weeks later JYS breaks his wrist at Jarama. I think he was still hoping to drive Indy, but did not pass the physical. He was the keynote speaker at that year's Mayor's Breakfast on opening day of practice, and he told everyone he was going to be driving for "some additive company." So Spence was Clark's replacement and then he, of course got killed on May 7, so Team Lotus is down to Hill and STP down to Weld. Joe Leonard originally was going to drive the car Parnelli had driven in 1967, but he crashed it. So I think (because it was No. 60) he got Spence's Team Lotus car (remember Spence was in Weld's car when he crashed). Then they added Pollard for the STP No. 20 when it was apparent Weld would not get up to speed."

Parnelli and Clark in 1968. That's an awful lot of cool to pack into one photo. Image via Robin Miller

Q: Sebastian Vettel can’t seem to find a home in Formula 1. What do you think it would take to entice Vettel to come to IndyCar, and which teams could pragmatically court him and have a stable for him? David Letterman speaks highly of Seb, and I wouldn’t be surprised if RLL made the investment. Could this open up a resurgence of F1 talent to the States like we had with Mario and Nigel? When does IMS anticipate having tickets reissued and mailed? I’ll need to purchase from the second-hand market.

Ryan, Michigan

RM: Hmmm, Vettel on an oval at Newton, Iowa. Nah, can’t see it. Vettel on any oval, nah, can’t see it. And RLL isn’t going to pay him F1 money, so I don’t see any way. IMS is re-issuing tickets as we speak, but don’t buy anything on the secondary market until you’re positive it’s the new tickets.

Q: My daughter and I had set up our lawn chairs on the hill outside Turn 5 at Sunday's Road America race. Shortly before the start of the race, we saw one of the AMR safety trucks come down the straight, hang the left at Turn 5, then come to a quick stop and back up. I figured they spotted something on the track they needed to pick up. I was surprised when every member of the team hopped out, walked around the concrete barrier and up to the chain link fence where there was a boy, looked like maybe around 9 years old, holding a sign. The team all turned around, facing the track with the kid holding his sign while one of the team members took a picture. I said to my daughter, "I wonder what the sign says?" She replied she'd seen his sign earlier and it's three lines read:

"My Heroes Save Lives"

[the AMR Safety Team logo]

"Future Team Member"

They then turned around so the kid's mom could take a picture. Once the Turn 5 crowd could see the sign, a big round of applause came up from the fans. I've been going to auto races for 55 of my 62 years, and that was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It's one more reason to love IndyCar, especially seeing that parents are still successfully exposing their kids well as seeing the sport. It would be great if you could track down the picture and maybe some feedback from the AMR guys. That might be an article by itself. Thanks for all you do for the sport we love.

John Z., Cedarburg, WI

RM: Great way to end the first weekend of IndyCar racing with fans, and my editor Mark is a sucker for feel-good stories with kids since his daughter is five years old.