Robin Miller's Mailbag for September 23, 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 love the concept of the Nashville street course, but if there’s an accident, at the anticipated high speeds, what safety measures are in place to keep an IndyCar from flying off the Gateway Boulevard/Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge?

Rob Peterson, Rochester, NY

RM: Let’s let track designer Tony Cotman answer. “While the straights are a reasonable length, the portion over the water is only 500 feet. For example, the final 2,000 feet of the straight from Turn1 – Turn 7 is not over water.”

Q: Any idea as to the plan for safety over the river? Will there be dive teams in the water? Is that even a legitimate fear to have – a car ending up in the water? Obviously, the catch fencing is designed to keep cars within the track, but those are two long, fast straights and this is open-wheel racing, after all.

BL in Wisconsin

RM: Like all circuits where water is present precautions for rescue will be taken. In this case the fire department has an ALS-equipped boat, which will be used along with additional divers.

Q: All in favor of expanding the IndyCar schedule, and especially going back to Nashville. One simple question: how in the world is it safe to race IndyCars across a truss bridge that spans a river?

Doug S.

RM: As Cotman pointed out, the cars are only over water for a short period of time and there will be provisions for water rescue in the event it’s needed. He’s also a member of the FIA Circuit Committee, so safety is always paramount whenever IndyCar adds a new track, and I’m sure Nashville will be no exception.

Q: Not to be a Debbie Downer, but on a scale from Baltimore to Boston, what’s the odds Nashville happens?

Shawn Lee, Maryland

RM: Based on the investors, location and cooperation from the city, I think it’s got a bright future.

Q: I'm very excited for the Music City GP. The track looks really wild, and it's a great city for the series. Plus, the locals interviewed are dying for a big event. Who knows about 2021 at this point, though by '22 I hope to fly out there. Without spoiling your off-season fodder, I have to figure the chances of COTA and Richmond returning to the schedule are iffy. With that being the case, what's the likelihood of another Road America double and Indy GP being run twice (prior to 500 and during Brickyard)?

Greg in NJ

RM: Richmond has a three-year deal and is very much in play for 2021. COTA isn't dead yet, and IndyCar officials are working to see if it can be on the schedule for 2021

Q: In reading several of your responses, it looks to me as though you feel the future of IndyCar is questionable. You continue to say purses are bad, teams are going to lose sponsorships, it’s hard to attract crowds. What the heck is going to happen?

Jim Riddle, Highlands, NC

RM: I fear the immediate future of all motorsports is iffy just because of the pandemic, companies losing money and laying off employees, so justifying sponsorship of a race car is going to be difficult And, other than Gateway, attracting new fans is hard, but old standbys like Long Beach, Road America and Mid-Ohio keep carrying the flag. But the fact at least 23 cars are on the grid for most IndyCar races is certainly encouraging, if not shocking.

Two F1 drivers have crashed cars into Monaco harbor: Alberto Ascari was leading in 1955 when he misjudged the chicane at the tunnel exit and sent his Lancia D50 into the water (above), and 10 years later, Paul Hawkins repeated the trick in his privateer Lotus 33. Neither driver was hurt. Fortunately for the modern IndyCar field, the chances someone's race ending in the river in Nashville are extremely slim. Motorsport Images

Q: I'm really confused. Earlier in the year when Roger Penske bought the Speedway and the series, you were very optimistic about the future of IndyCar. But last week this was your response to one reader's question... television ratings drive sponsorship so that’s why NASCAR is on another plateau, and I’m really concerned about IndyCar and 2021. So why are you now concerned about IndyCar and 2021 and what changed your mind so quickly?

Ron, Portland, OR

RM: When The Captain bought the Speedway and IndyCar, the economy was healthy and so was the country. Obviously, that’s all changed and nobody is sure when COVID will subside enough to resume normal life, but motorsports isn’t a necessity – it’s a luxury that few people or companies can afford right now. I’m concerned that between low TV ratings and the malaise of corporate America that some IndyCar teams will have trouble holding onto their current sponsor or finding a new one. I hope it’s not true, but I’m just being realistic. And I can promise you that without Roger Penske we would not have had an IndyCar season, or the 104th Indianapolis 500, or any chance at survival.

Q: A few years back F1 made plans to run a race in Weehawken, New Jersey. Aside from having the west side of Manhattan as a backdrop, the street course had a neat run up the Hudson Palisades, then back down to run along the Hudson River. What ever happened to that race, and wouldn’t it be cool to have IndyCar run on that circuit?

Bill Phypers, Brewster, NY

RM: It died in 2013 before it got started, and again in 2017 when Lights were proposed, so I’d say unless someone came to R.P. with a sweetheart deal, it’s still dead.

Q: I don’t understand why James Hinchcliffe doesn’t have a full-time ride? I think he easily a top-10 racer. I think the public and media like him a lot. Are the potential sponsors blind? Or am I the idiot?

Jeff Coopman

RM: Hinch was left by the side of the road for 2020 when Arrow McLaren SP broke his contract, so finding Genesys was a godsend that allowed him to salvage Indy. And I think he’ll end up with Andretti or Ganassi for 2021 – maybe splitting a ride with Jimmie Johnson? But he certainly deserves to be a full-timer if that’s what he desires.

Q: I would like to commend Hinch for his observations and professional interactions with drivers, team representatives, owners and, his broadcast colleagues. He’s extremely knowledgeable, has the ability to quickly and accurately comment about on-track incidents, and is always upbeat and courteous. I loved a recent comment he made about Rossi taking over ‘my car’ – the one James had driven in the 500. I hope he can find a permanent ride, but if not, please pass this on to NBC for the purpose of securing his long-term role behind the mic.

Don Finch, Chandler, AZ

RM: Thanks Don. Don’t worry about The Mayor. He’s not ready to be a television full-timer yet, but I think NBC has long-range plans for him. I predicted he’d be a TV star back in our SPEED days together, and for once, I got a pick right. And his interviews with the drivers are the best because he’s still one of them.

Q: I am pleased to see signs of past champions developing with Colton Herta. Been a fan since he karted and no, he doesn’t have deep pockets – just three wins. So the question is, will he even get tougher, as champions do not hesitate to take whatever opening appears on track, no matter how slim? Good to see Colton become aggressive as this is a sport to win, not participate in. So do you see Colton become one tough competitor and truly worthy of the Hertamania 2.0 title?

Richard Buckle

RM: I think he’s becoming more aggressive, and he’s already a tough competitor. Somewhere between his dad and Paul Tracy would be a nice landing spot.

Q: I really appreciate your Mailbag, the patience you show fans and allowing folks to voice their opinions. One regular complaint was that there are not enough Americans in IndyCar. In the second show at Mid-Ohio, the top four finishers were Americans. When was last time this occurred? Second question. A.J. Allmendinger – think he ever regrets leaving IndyCar for NASCAR? The money was better, but what he could have accomplished in open-wheel racing? Stay well.

RB, Florida

RM: In 2019 at Texas it was Newgarden, Rossi, Rahal and Ferrucci (thank you Russ Thompson), and I don’t know if A.J. regrets it but he should because he was going to be a star in open-wheel.

We haven't seen the last of Hinch, in or out of the car. Michael Levitt/Motorsport Images

Q: Jimmie Johnson coming to IndyCar will bring a few more of the NASCAR eyes to IndyCar. The more eyes (and sponsors) the better, obviously.

Along with Scott McLaughlin coming from Aussie Supercars, I do see the appeal of IndyCar starting to filter out to other racing series. It's always the first thing the F1 snobs bring up when a driver loses his seat. So if I was Roger Penske, I'd try to lure Checo Perez and Nico Hulkenberg to IndyCar. I'm sure there's two team owners who'd sign them up and dump one of their poorly performing drivers. F1 guys come with sponsors, and money. Lots of glorious money. It would bring international attention, and international money. I know Perez is sponsored by Telmex and they give him a lot of money – I'm sure Nico has his own sponsors also. Alonso opened the door to making IndyCar "cool" again with the Europeans, and I would love to watch some former F1 drivers who are still near their prime go out and try to beat Dixon, Power, etc. So, what do you think? Can you please put in a word with Roger to recruit these guys?

Mike in Tampa

RM: I think The Captain is a little too busy with his daily business and keeping IndyCar breathing to be a recruiter, but Zak Brown seems to have interest in Perez. Now you can’t assume he or Hulkenberg are interested in oval-track racing, that’s usually the deal breaker, even though Marcus Ericsson has adapted nicely. My question is, how many tickets would Nico Hulkenberg sell in IndyCar? If Mexico City got a race with Pato and Perez, that would be big. You get Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen and that’s a different ballgame, but they’re not coming over here.

Q: Seems it’s a done deal with Jimmie Johnson getting a street/road course ride with Ganassi next year, and though I would rather that seat go to a young gun upstart rather than a 44-year-old, I do see a scenario where T.K. gets the oval ride with Ganassi to so he can properly do the “retirement tour” in front of fans. I get it that J.J. can bring sponsors to the table, and maybe if T.K.’s longtime sponsor 7-Eleven steps up this will come together very soon. Your thoughts?

Jeff, Florida

RM: I don’t know that it’s a done deal (that’s not how the press release read) with Johnson, but I’ve been hearing Hinch is a candidate to split that ride, so that could work. I think T.K. has three or four loyal sponsors that want to give him a proper sendoff, so the key is finding the best possible ride for Indianapolis and he’s working on it.

Q: In your August 26 Mailbag your almost-throwaway line about Jeff Gordon -- “nobody in CART would give him the time of day” -- caused many pages of discussions on various IndyCar boards – the roadies in the Parade Brigade claiming Gordon didn’t have the talent to make it in CART anyway, and the Roundy Pounders claiming that Gordon got screwed. Do you think Jeff will ever speak publicly about what happened in the pits in Cleveland? Do you think anyone who is in the know will ever speak publicly about what happened in the pits in Cleveland?

Chris L.

RM: I don’t think it’s any secret that his stepfather, John Bickford, took Jeff to Cleveland to try and meet some car owners and got the cold shoulder. But if any of those experts don’t think he had the talent, they know nothing about driving a race car.

Q: I just read your article regarding Seabass joining A.J.’s team and look forward hopefully for some more on track competition. On the team’s website, under autographs, it states, “Please do not send posters, helmets, or Le Mans-related materials as these will not be autographed due to his personal reasons.” Just curious if you know if there is something about Le Mans that he’s unhappy about? Also curious to know if Anne Fornoro related to Nick who used to be the starter/flagman from the CART days?

Tom Corso, Ranch Mirage, CA

RM: A.J. gets inundated with autograph requests so he had to draw the line, and he hated French food so I imagine that could be the main reason. Anne is married to Drew Fornoro, one of Nick’s two racing sons, and she’s successfully kept A.J. out of lawsuits and jail for the past 30-plus years while deftly handling his PR.

Q: You speculated recently on a possible Team Foyt renaissance. What do you think of a Foyt return to his traditional red livery for car 14 (I believe the technical term for the shade was actually 'Foyt red' ) worn for successfully for decades under Gilmore sponsorship? And how about a return to that iconic red and white-checkered shirt wear? (Updated to Nomex, of course.) If Foyt wants to recapture past glory, he could do worse than a return to that 'look'.

A Jenkins, Toronto, Canada

RM: I think it was called “Coyote orange,” and Jim Gilmore loved it, but today’s sponsors pretty much dictate the color scheme.

Q: I read with interest your article on Bourdais going full-time with Foyt in 2021 and I really hope they produce some good results. I do however feel that Bourdais has one hand tied behind his back with Dalton Kellett as a pay driver teammate, while the split shops is not a help. You write that “ There are plenty of reasons for all the struggles. The team is divided (one car in Houston and one in Indianapolis, although A.J. says that’s no big deal.)" There you have the nucleus of the problem. Here is hoping I’m wrong.

Oliver Wells

RM: Well Seb doesn’t need a lot of help on chassis feedback because he’s pretty savvy, but it’s A.J.’s team so who are we to tell him how to run it? And I think it’s easier to get people to work in Indy than Houston, so maybe that’s the compromise.

Q: Great news about A.J. Foyt running Seb full-time next season. So is A.J. funding this out of his own pocket or did a sponsor step up?

Martin Moriguchi, Henderson, NV

RM: Tex says they’re looking OK in terms of sponsorship, but I think he’s paying Seb’s salary out of his own pocket – which is deeper than most people can imagine.

The smile lasted right up until he saw the dinner menu. Schlegelmilch/Motorsport Images

Q: What are your realistic expectations for next year with Seabass going to Foyt?

John from Akron

RM: Qualify in the top 12 for road and street circuits with a few visits to the Fast 6. Maybe a podium or two.

Q: I often hear tech segments talking about the pressure required from the driver to effectively use the brakes being some massive amount of force that they have to train for. F1 really comes to mind – one of the announcers/past drivers said he can't even use the brakes fully when he gets a chance to drive the cars because he simply can't push the pedal hard enough. This seems just odd in this day and age. It's a hydraulic brake setup – there is no mechanical linkage directly to the calipers, so why would the engineers set the brake pedal up to require so much force? I would think a driver would be able to be much more precise over a whole race distance if just a decent amount of force required. Can you shed some light on this please? Is it true that they take that much force to use properly, malarkey, or what and why?

Dan Hudson

RM: I’m going to defer to the king of brake bias, Mr. Marshall Pruett. “Yes, a lot of effort is required to stop the cars, but as you've probably seen, an entire field of IndyCars just spent two days and two races successfully braking at numerous corners at Mid-Ohio for a combined 150 laps, and they were all capable of walking away from those cars afterwards, so there's a bit of a visual answer to your question here. Sure, IndyCar could implement all manner of assistive devices to make turning, stopping, and accelerating much easier, but then it wouldn't be IndyCar.”

Q: If we get the knockout qualifying for a road racing doubleheader, I agree with you it is a great thing, but right now they’re doing two groups at Indy just like they did at Mid-Ohio. I would more enjoy a warm-up lap and two flying laps to set the grid for Race 1 and 2 than these two group deals like we have already had at Road America and Mid-Ohio. You can send the car out for a warm-up as soon as the car on a flyer crosses pit exit. Realistically the next car is ready to go around 20 seconds after the car out there finishes.

Ryan T.

RM: It’s all part of the show and television package, and knock-out qualifying is good TV. I like two laps at ovals for doubleheaders, but doubt we have many of those in 2021 unless COVID is still on the loose.

Q: Try making sense of the Nielsen numbers for the Indy 500. Is it the starting time, or is it just destined to be one of many niche sports for viewers to choose from? Is lighting up IMS the expensive answer to more viewers for the 500? When will NBC start hinting toward nighttime racing? I doubt if you could budge NASCAR from its traditional Sunday 600 time slot. The first two, maybe three years of dazzling night racing would surely increase viewership. What then? Could the Speedway keep it fresh? Is the midday start so traditional, so family oriented so rich with memories, to not allow a late start?

Phil Wolski

RM: IndyCar is a niche sport and I’m not sure a night race moves the needle. IMS has maintained that lights are way too expensive and R.P. is a traditionalist, so I imagine noon is always the target. The late start this year certainly didn’t help the ratings, and I’m still puzzled at why they were so low since NBA numbers are way down and the golf tourney that day was a runaway. I’m afraid people just don’t care anymore – not enough of them, anyway.

Q: With 15 laps to go at Mid Ohio on Saturday, NBCSN put up a graphic showing the amount of Push-to-Pass remaining for each driver. Some drivers had very little left while others had over half of it left. Marco had 160 seconds left, which was the most of any driver. Do drivers get to carry over some or all of their unused P2P to the next race? Have you ever heard of a driver complaining that their P2P button didn't work? Does P2P work during practice sessions so that drivers can experiment with the best places to use it? Have you ever heard anyone complain that someone found a way to ‘hack’ the P2P and somehow get extra time or get it to work during qualifying?

St. Pete IndyCar fan

RM: Nobody is allowed any carryover, and P2P is allowed in practice. Never heard of anyone hacking it or any malfunctions.

Q: What happened with Jon Beekuis and NBC? I always enjoyed his pit reporting.

Steve F. KC, MO

RM: We all did, but he was a victim of the salary cap. NBC has full-timers under contract like Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast and Dave Burns, while Kevin Lee and Dillon Welch are contract players. For five months, while FOX has NASCAR, that NASCAR trio needs something to do, so Marty/Kelly/Dave go to IndyCar. And with Hinch added to the mix, there was just no place for Beekhuis. Plus NBC cut back to two pit reporters except for the Indy 500. But nobody was better at sizing up strategy than Jon.

P2P resets at the checker, regardless of how much a driver might have left. Barry Cantrell/Motorsport Images

Q: What was the worst IndyCar Series race for 2020, and what is the worst IndyCar Series race that you have ever been to?

Chris Fiegler, Latham, NY

RM: Texas and Gateway No. 2 were forgettable, and the 1994 Michigan 500 where Scott Goodyear lapped the field and only six cars finished.

Q: I recently came across a video about USAC dropping the ball in the '70s with losing Marlboro sponsorship for the series by allowing Viceroy to sponsor a team. I was unaware of this. I saw during the Bobby Unser roast that you didn’t hold back on your disdain for USAC’s management. I know it’s likely too large of a list to lay out every screw-up of theirs in a short answer. But, what are some of the biggest missteps made by USAC that come to mind?

Andrew Howard

RM: Losing Marlboro. Taking the dirt tracks out of the National Championship schedule. Banning rear-engine sprint cars.

Q: I saw a great article on Jim Hurtubise. I was not familiar with his story and didn’t know he’s from Western New York, but it was an education of the rise and ultimate demise of Jim. I can see now how he drove for A.J. Foyt. Will Jim receive any additional recognition from any additional halls of fame, or is he doomed to be remembered from 1978?

Rob, Buffalo, NY

RM: A.J., Parnelli and Herk were the standards in the early '60s before Jim got burned at Milwaukee in 1964. He carried the torch for the front-engine roadster for the next 15 years and ended up being thrown out of IMS in 1978 after his protest in qualifying. But if you saw him run a sprinter or heard the roar of the crowd when he led the opening lap at Indy in the Novi, or watched the reception every time he rolled into pit lane, you know he sold as many tickets as anyone. He belongs in the IMS Hall of Fame, and I’m hoping Roger Penske will get him in there.

Q: Recently, I read for the first time about the Hawaiian Super Prix and it sounded a lot like how you described the Boston GP – all talk and no substance. I wondered what your thoughts were about it, both at the time and now?

Jordan, Warwickshire, UK

RM: CART was rolling along in the late '90s so when this $10 million ($5 million to the winner), season-ending race was announced and Mario was at the press conference I think we were all hopeful. I think we all questioned where the money was going to come from for Hawaii, and of course, it was all hat and no cattle. A black eye for CART, for sure.

Q: I had to chuckle at your response to my question regarding Larry "Mr. First In Line" Bisceglia in Miller's Mailbag a few weeks ago and that you aren't a member of the Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers' Club. It brought to mind a quote by Groucho Marx: "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept people like me as a member." That sounds like something you would say. No interest? Keep up the good work and take care of yourself!

Lawrence Stoen, Palm Beach Gardens

RM: For whatever reason I never joined the Racing Writers Association or any club except USAC (because you had to if you wanted to race), but there are a lot of cool guys in the OldTimers Club, and I enjoy hearing their stories whenever our paths cross.

Q: Just finished the September 16 Mailbag. I see the discussion about the changes to Auto Club Speedway and the Hanford device. So I looked up the YouTube video of Gil de Ferran's record run of 241 mph at Fontana in 2000, and I see the Handford device on the car. Any speculation from you or Marshall on how fast that lap would have been without the device?

Kevin, Arlington Hts., IL

RM: I asked a couple of engineers from back in that era and they reckoned the high 240s, maybe close to a 250 mph lap. I remember interviewing Mo Gugelmin for RPM2Night after he ran a practice lap at 241 mph that day and he said: “That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done. It’s insane.”

Q: I’ve always liked to keep track of who the starter has been going way back, but I never have heard a word on who has been in the starter stand for IndyCar this year?

Charlie Yu, Fort Wayne

Q: IndyCar employs three starters who usually rotate duties. They are Bryan Howard (longtime IndyCar and Indy 500 starter), Tom Hansing (longtime USAC starter and IndyCar starter) and Aaron Likens (new for 2020, and also current Road to Indy starter). All three guys were on flag stand at times during practice and qualifying in August, and all three worked the Indy 500. (Thanks to IndyCar’s Arni Sribhen for that information).

Q: I loved your recent article “Is this the missing piece to Foyt’s puzzle?” As a longtime A.J. fan, I was intrigued by a comment you made in the article about the way you tend to end your discussions with him talking about, among other things, the coolest Coyotes. Personally, I love the ’73-’77 vintage car, but have always been most drawn to his ’67 Indy winner. Would you mind sharing his and your thoughts on the “coolest Coyote”?

Jeff Daniels, Seattle

RM: From Super Tex: “They were all good because I had Bob Riley, Eddie Kuzma, Quinn Epperly and Lujie Lesovsky working on them and they were the best. But I’d have to say that 1977 would be my favorite, because we built it in Houston, used my engine and I drove it.”

This is the Mailbag, so someone is definitely going to write in to argue with A.J. over his choice of Coyote. IMS image

Q: I noticed recently – especially in last week’s Mailbag that you’re getting a little flustered with some people. Not a criticism by any stretch, I don’t blame you. Some people are pretty far out there at times. IndyCar fans opinions sometimes remind me of a line from Rambo II. Stay with me here. In the scene, Rambo is getting tortured by the Russian with an electrical device, but he won’t talk. The Russian says, ‘Courage is a poor substitute for intelligence.’ That’s some IndyCar fans. Just use passion instead of courage, and you have it.

Onto my question. Speedway gas pumps feature a screen with ‘Speedway TV’ that has various rapid-fire clips of news, tips, sports, too. I had a thought pop into my head the other day when I was filling my car. What would it take to have IndyCar clips on the pump? Even if it’s just the last race winner and a reminder of the next event? I’m guessing that those clips are paid content, but Speedway is a sponsor so maybe this facilitates my idea. While I doubt it moves the needle a ton, I also doubt that it would cost much. Anything that raises awareness has to help.

Eric Z, Lancaster, NY

RM: I get grouchy when people try to pound the same point, over and over, even after I’ve supplied my answer two or three times before, but they mean well so I try not to be too sarcastic. That’s a great idea about Speedway, and I sent it to the IndyCar marketing department.

Q: I have been following IndyCar for over 50 years and been to 12 different tracks. In today’s time it is great to watch a sport where a prayer is given, the national anthem is sung and everyone stands and respects the flag. Tribute is made to our soldiers, and no one is making a political statement. Just a great time to enjoy a race.

Tom Gish, Louisville, KY

RM: Agreed, Tom. Sporting events are supposed to be escapism, and I think IndyCar grasps that concept.

Q: As we all know, motorsports events over the last several months have been completely upended in unprecedented fashion. While it is really strange to see no spectators in the stands until quite recently, I commend all of the major sanctioning bodies in doing the best that they could in order to put together events and meaningful championships and be mindful of best practices for protecting the participants. This is only the result of extraordinary efforts put in by the leadership and officials of IndyCar, Formula 1, NASCAR, the WEC, MotoGP and the NHRA. It also speaks to the flexibility of the track officials involved in all of these events. It never is perfect, but I think the small number of infections of all the personnel involved reflects the decisions and protocols that have been put in place. So, to all: Thank You!!

Don Hopings, Cathedral City, CA

RM: Thanks Don, you ended the Mailbag on a high note.