Q: I know you’re probably getting deluged with mail on this, but I just wanted to say that I’m super stoked! I’ve been to one Brickyard and didn’t care for it. I will attend my second along with the IndyCar race next year. Hopefully this leads to more collaboration between the two series!

DJ Odom, Anderson, IN

RM: I think IMS suggested to NASCAR to move the road course several years ago, and if it’s anything like this year’s Xfinity race or last weekend’s IndyCar doubleheader, you will be greatly entertained.

Q: When was the last time we had two back-to-back caution-free races in IndyCar?

Travis R, Noblesville, IN

RM: In 2012, Edmonton and Mid-Ohio.

Q: I am an open-wheel loyalist, but the Cup cars on a road course are highly entertaining. I was glad to see that NASCAR added COTA, Road America and a weekend with IndyCar at the Speedway’s road course. The Xfinity race at Indy was good, but the cars looked painfully slow, especially around the tight corners, compared to IndyCars. Do you think NASCAR will dump the experiment when it is apparent how much faster Indy cars are? I guess it boils down to how the fans like it, but would be interested in your opinion. Keep up the great work you do for us.

Andy, Las Vegas

RM: If the new Brickyard format is as good as The Glen and Sonoma usually are, the fans won’t care how fast or slow a stock car looks around the IMS road course. I think it’s a very smart thing to do.

Edmonton 2012 was about yellow cars, not yellow flags. Phillip Abbott/Motorsport Images

Q: This weekend’s Harvest GP’s produced some great racing and some exciting finishes throughout the field. I know the schedule is already released for 2021, but aside from the shared weekend with NASCAR, I really hope we see another fall event in the future at IMS.

My question involves the loads of marbles and tire debris after the events. At IMS, there sure was a lot of marbles and tire debris all over the track and on the cars. It appeared to be a lot more than we see at other events, but that could be an illusion due to accessible camera angles for us fans at home. After each event and after the sweepers clear the track surfaces, what happens to all the rubber debris? Does Firestone take that debris and try to recycle back in to future tire formulas, or is it recycled/reused in other ways?

Jamie Doellinger, Wrightsville, PA

RM: No caution flags, no chance to sweep the marbles. Not sure they were any worse than usual, and no, they are not recycled. Thrown away.

Q: Could the Scott Dixon car be repaired with 200mph tape over the hole in the sidepod at the Saturday Harvest GP like they do in NASCAR?

Howard, Lombard, IL

RM: Not without losing way too much time. A Ganassi pit stop is 6-7 seconds and that job might cost a lap.

Q: I could be wrong, but I remember that when NBC signed its TV deal with IndyCar it was only for three years covering the 2019-2020-2021 seasons. That means two out of three seasons are almost over, and by the end of next year, if nothing is done then IndyCar will be without a television home. Do you know if IndyCar is working on extending this deal, or what else is going on behind the scenes when it comes to the TV deal? Thanks for all that you do, Robin!

Naruto Uzumaki, Milwaukee, WI

RM: Well NBC picked up its option for next year and, naturally, Roger Penske and Mark Miles will be negotiating for a new contract as soon as the season is over.

Q: Robin, thank you for your excellent work. It was good to see you back on NBC Sports Gold for practice at the Harvest GP. I apologize if this question is a repeat, but I really would like to know why the clock continues to run on qualifying during a red flag. Can you fill me in?

Leslie Bissell, Kansas City, KS

RM: Teams are guaranteed five minutes of green and it’s a time-certain schedule because of television and the schedule of other races. Thanks for your kind words.