Robin Miller's Mailbag for October 14, 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: So, what's up with the Askew move? Is it about money? Because of Pato?  It just all seems odd. I doubt Castroneves has a shot at a full-time seat, but isn't Gil De Ferran involved?

Jim Doyle, Hoboken, NJ

RM: We only know what McLaren tells us in its press releases and that’s not much, but it appears to be payback for Askew’s story with the Associated Press about his health.

Q: I love reading how all of the “experts” write to you and want to go back to Michigan, Fontana and other oval tracks that were financial losers in the last few races they staged. I hate it that they aren’t on the schedule, but they were money losers. People love telling others how to spend their money without knowing a damn thing about business. These races cost money to run, tracks wake up every day and eat money – a lot of it – and track owners and promoters are like retailers, they purchase the rights to the race at one cost and sell tickets to offset that cost. If they do well, they make a profit. And that’s after debt service, promotion, employee support and all of the other costs of running the track and the actual event. It’s a huge risk.

But for all of the “experts” out there, there is one way to make sure we can go back to these tracks. Just become a promoter, or better yet, build your own oval track and put your money on the line. Let’s see how that works out. Do you ever get tired of all the complainers? For me, I’m just glad we have racing at all, given the situation we are in and have been in for the past 20 years. I’m thankful for Roger Penske, a guy who loves the sport and is putting his own money into the sport to help it survive.

A. Taylor, Dallas, TX

RM: I think what I grow weary of is the assumption from fans that IndyCar doesn’t want ovals, or that all they have to do is call up MIS, Kentucky or Chicago and we’re back in business. Even though an oval is cheaper to stage than a street race, it’s still a big number in today’s economy. Sanction fee, promotion and staffing makes it almost impossible to break even unless you have a great title sponsor, and they’re few and far between. Ovals are vanishing because nobody goes anymore, and nobody wants to take a chance they might start again.

So here's what we were thinking. We could spend the next few pages running shots of empty Fontana, or happy-looking Gateway fans, to illustrate the latest raft of letters about the IndyCar schedule. Or, we could run random shots of racing drivers with animals. No contest. So to get things rolling, here's a Minardi-spec Alonso looking slightly scared of a koala back in 2001. Motorsport Images

Q: I’ve read with great interest all of the people who are outraged about the lack of ovals on the 2021 IndyCar schedule. I, too, am deeply disappointed to see ovals disappearing from the schedule, but I’m also a realist. My true passion for IndyCar racing was born when I was in my early 20s in the mid 1990s, when the concept of an all-oval track IndyCar series was launched. I attended at least one IndyCar race each season between 1997 and 2011, and again between 2013 and 2019. I’ve attended IndyCar races at Charlotte, Richmond, Dover, Orlando, Nazareth, Homestead, New Hampshire, Pocono, and even Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio. Although I prefer IndyCars on oval tracks, I also enjoy road racing, and have attended a number of IMSA races as well.

My point is, I’m passionate about IndyCars racing on oval tracks. However, this is 2020, the world is still in the midst of a pandemic and I’m disappointed I was unable to attend any auto racing events this year. However, I’m thankful that racing was able to continue in the midst of the pandemic. I understand that the pandemic, and the economics of the sport in general, have led to a lack of ovals on the 2021 IndyCar schedule. And while I may be disappointed, I completely understand and I am happy the series was able to at least release a schedule for the new year. Although I do believe the schedule will go through some changes, I’m just keeping my fingers crossed there will be some racing to enjoy in 2021, on any type of track.

Will more oval tracks creep onto the IndyCar schedule over the next five to 10 years? Hopefully. But if they don’t, I’ll just be happy that racing is able to continue. Now, the death of the Brickyard 400, I can’t write such nice things about, as watching in person as Tony Stewart won his first race at IMS was a day I will never forget…

Kevin, Pennsylvania

RM: First of all, thanks for traveling all over to support IndyCar. As for ovals, if NBC, NASCAR and IndyCar can agree on a track and a date, I still think a doubleheader is in play for the future. And maybe Kentucky could return some day, but I can’t see most of those old ovals ever coming back on the schedule.

Q: Hey Robin, I hope you’re feeling well and keeping up the good fight. A lot of bellyaching about the schedule. As a 60-year-old fan living through the golden years, I have a lot of hope for the future for IndyCar. I know ovals were the history but they are dead, and most times not good racing. I can only stand the Indy 500. Road and street courses are the future, and are the best racing. That’s why even NASCAR is adding road races. Car racing should be driving fast and slow, turning left and right. I live in NYC and go to Indy every year (20 years now) and drive to every track I can. Hopefully Roger can get IndyCar back to Watkins Glen with IMSA. What I say to the fans is, get out and support this sport. Bring family, bring friends. It is the best racing out there right now. The future is bright. Penske is a genius, and thank God for him. The young drivers are great – Herta, VeeKay, O’Ward, Askew, Ferrucci. You just have to love where we are and where we are going. Agree?

Bill Peer

RM: NASCAR dropping ovals for road courses tells you all you need to know about the fate of turning left. In CART’s heydays you had seven ovals, seven road courses and seven street circuits, and it gave Bernie and the France family pause for thought because it was the most interesting and diverse series in the world. Thanks to this Dallara chassis, the rulebook and all the young talent IndyCar can still lay claim to putting on the best racing of the Big 3, and it’s still got the most diversity. If anyone can do a deal with IMSA at The Glen it’s The Captain, and we’d all love to see it.

Q: My teenage son and I had a great time finally seeing some racing in person earlier this month at IMS! The addition of the sports cars Saturday and 8-hour endurance race Sunday made the whole weekend very entertaining. In addition, we were able to have breakfast Sunday before the race at the greatest diner in America, Charlie Brown’s pancake and steakhouse in Speedway. As racing seems to be more and more a niche sport competing for fans and viewers, can we expect to see more of this type of these schedules (IndyCar, sports/endurance racing) in the future? We were even more willing to drive two hours from Louisville to watch a full day of racing as opposed to a single event. Both of us really enjoyed the mix of cars and racing we were able to see.

Josh and Jonah Meier, Louisville, KY

RM: The recent sports car/IndyCar weekend was a result of the pandemic, IndyCar needing to add races and the sports cars already on the IMS schedule. The IMSA/IndyCar twin bills at Long Beach and Detroit are always entertaining so hopefully that coupling could evolve in the next few years (ED: IMSA and IndyCar will race on consecutive weekends in Detroit in 2021 rather than sharing the bill), and it always seems like people react as you and your son did getting to watch two different disciplines. Pretty certain the sports car and IndyCar fans are of the same ilk. And racing’s a niche sport but when you think about how RACER.com’s three biggest areas of audience growth in 2020 have been 18-24, 25-34 and females, there’s hope.

Incredibly, Tonio Liuzzi's 2007 French GP weekend went even further downhill after this was taken: Super Aguri's Anthony Davidson drove into the side of him in pitlane during practice, and then rear-ended him at the start of the race. Motorsport Images

Q: "You believed in Santa Claus until you were 11"? Got news for you. I still believe (I'm 71) because he brings me the Indy 500 every year since 1959. On a serious note, could the cool temps at the Harvest GP helped the Firestone tires make better racing than previous GPs?

Dave Seaton, Indy

RM: Let’s ask Cara Adams, the director of race tire engineering and production for Bridgestone Americas. “To a certain point, most tire compounds perform better in cooler temperatures. We have our 50 degree ambient and track rule to help with the lower limit. Certain harder, more durable compounds, like what we would run at Road America or Watkins Glen, may take a little bit more heat input to be in the optimal based on the type of compound and the thickness of the tread.”

Q: Maybe I see things differently, but it almost makes me want to rip my own eyes out when I see the amount of people whining and complaining about the 2021 IndyCar Schedule. The fact that IndyCar survived a global pandemic isn't enough for them? That fact that some teams (RLL, Penske, Meyer Shank etc) may expand in 2021 isn't enough? The fact that Veekay, O'Ward and Herta are three of the brightest young stars in a long time isn't enough? In my opinion, this series is some of the best racing we have to watch right now in the entire world. The lack of ovals isn't ideal, but I’d much rather be happy in life with what I do have, than with what I don't have or could have. Do you get many letters agreeing with me?

Eric, Mequon, WI

RM: Well-stated Eric, and yes, the majority of the mail after the first wave of whiners was all positive because I think people realize IndyCar made the best of a really tough situation and pulled it off in 2020.

Q: First, let me say I’m in agreement with a statement made in October 7th’s Mailbag that some fans are impossible to please, and that your old adage that some open-wheel fans love to bitch for the sake of it seems depressingly true. For what it’s worth, I think Roger Penske’s hand at IndyCar’s tiller is the best thing the sport could possibly have, especially in the present circumstances. I likewise understand that the schedule’s imperfections are a result of economic realities  – I went to Fontana the last two years it ran, and Phoenix all three years during its most recent turn; with the audience numbers present, it’d be a tough sell for me to keep going, even if the racing proved excellent.

That said, it does look bleak, and as exciting as that race in Nashville looks to be, IndyCar looks like it’s going to turn into a (much) more competitive American F1 clone if it keeps hemorrhaging ovals. What do you think it’s going to take to stop the bleeding? (Aside, perhaps, from not having so much empty track time?) Likewise, did I miss something? While the Indy road course seems a logical place for a NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader, I thought one of the prime movers of that discussion was an effort to boost oval attendance. I do hope that particular point hasn’t been forgotten.

Garrett from Reno

RM: I’m not sure there’s any tourniquet big enough because it’s not just a trend – it’s a reality that even NASCAR is giving up on ovals. But there is still a chance for a stock car/IndyCar twin-bill down the road on NBC if the right track and date can be located. How about the Wednesday night of baseball’s All-Star week at Gateway? Or Kentucky?

Q: I was thinking of your response to my question to you last week and how I thought NASCAR was conspiring against IndyCar with their tracks. You stated that you thought that Richmond was going to be a financial loss so it pulled the plug. Thinking back, I purchased my tickets mid March, days ahead of everything shutting down due to the pandemic. I was able to get really good seats for my son and I. I would guess that advance ticket sales were very low and I can see where they wouldn't go ahead after that.

Now, my suggestion, NASCAR and IndyCar should double up at an oval, such as Richmond. If selling season passes in the past helped sell tickets at Texas, Michigan and other tracks, a weekend with two premier racing series could be a winner. As stated many times, there is not enough activity to the casual fan, not enough band for the buck. With the right promoter, together both series I think could find sponsorship and get the crowds to make it a winner. Just my two cents and I'm sure it's been discussed, just wish it would happen.

Bob Akerman

RM: It has been discussed after NBC liked the idea, and Texas and Richmond were both identified as possibilities, but that was before the later got erased from the IndyCar schedule. I think R.P. and Jay Frye want to make it happen, and it’s just a matter of finding the right combination and date.

Q: The comments about the IndyCar 2021 schedule are mind blowing. The quality of driving and competition has never been better in the 30 years! I have been following Indy and the CART eras. The ‘fans’ that continue to bemoan IndyCar seem exceptionally fair-weathered – or more likely, choose to not support the series in-person. In The Split year of 2001 I attended races at: Indianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Mid-Ohio, Cleveland, Michigan's CART finale, Road America, and Indy F1 as well. I get most of those have dropped off the schedule, but if you are complaining here about the races, the question to ask is "how many other races did you attend in-person last year?" After attending the Harvest GP and taking my six-year old to his first ever in-person IndyCar race –and spending on merch to make it memorable and to support the series – I have to ask your readers: what have you done to support the schedule? Fans can't complain about losing a track they didn't attend. Thanks for the reader accountability, sir.

Ed, Westfield, IN

RM: I would give anything to be able to identify whether some of the longtime moaners have ever attended a race in-person, or when was their last one. It’s not cheap to drive to a race, pay for hotel room and buy a decent seat with a pit pass – I get that – but it’s an entertainment option that obviously doesn’t apply to oval tracks anymore.

If you signed with late-1990s Benetton, you probably knew that something like this would be on the cards. Motorsport Images

Q: Please make it stop! As someone who has spent a career negotiating contracts and running businesses, the one thing that sticks in my craw more than anything else is a Monday morning quarterback. I’d bet that these people who complain about the schedule are challenged to build anything more complex than a plain bologna sandwich. Rant over. Thanks to you and Marshall for feeding us stories and insight all year. It’s greatly appreciated.

Greg Phelps

RM: Thanks for reading. In terms of contracts, I wish I could divulge the spread in sanction fees through the years and how low it’s become at certain places in order to function. The days of the big sanction fee are long gone – now it’s just about survival – and IndyCar was forced to become a promoter at Phoenix all three years and at Iowa this season and gave Milwaukee a freebie a few years ago just to try and jump-start it.

Q: At what point do you think people will start to see IndyCar as entertainment and not something that somehow affects them personally and makes their head pop off when they don’t get what they want? It reminds me of the people who complain when Facebook or Instagram makes a change to a thing they get for free. If you’re watching a race and don’t like it, turn it off and go watch curling or glorified rummage sales on reality TV or spend your time playing with your kids or your partner. It’s racing. That’s it. One day it will go the way of horse-drawn buggies and whips. It will. Enjoy what you get for free, or turn it off. But complaining to you, Robin, makes no sense.

Randall, Winters, CA

RM: Good question, Randall. I’m still in shock thinking about the fan that labeled the Friday IMS Harvest race as the ‘worst ever’ when, of course, it was one of the best. Not sure what people want or expect anymore, but it’s good racing and pretty damn entertaining most of the time so they might want to pursue your option (although judging by our TV ratings a lot of them already have).

Q: I live about 50 miles south of D.C. on I-95. Like many, I was really bummed out that Richmond went away. I have a five and an eight-year-old who watch IndyCar races with me. The five-year-old loves to point out Dixon's and Newgarden's cars on TV. I was hoping he would be able to bring Joseph's children's book to Richmond to get an autograph, as that would be a memorable event for a five-year-old. What possibilities are there for mid-Atlantic races? Any sort of road or oval? VIR evidently is too narrow or something (which I question, since LMP1 cars raced there with IMSA before the merger). Where else could they race other than a street course which bombed financially in Baltimore? Charlotte roval? I'm begging not to have to drive either nine hours to Nashville or 10 hours to Indy.

Doug B.

RM: Newgarden tested an IndyCar on the Roval so I thought there might be a possibility there, and I imagine if we give R.P. a couple years he can find an eastern/mid-Atlantic venue.

Q: Like most everyone, I am disappointed by the lack of ovals on the 2021 schedule.  I live in Kansas City, which is a short drive to Iowa Speedway and just a bit longer to Gateway. I have attended both on multiple occasions. I attended Nashville oval several times, Atlanta once, Homestead several times, Chicago, Kansas, and Texas. So I think I did my part to support ovals. Is there flexibility in the schedule in 2021 to allow an oval or two to come in at a later date prior to the season? The 2021 schedule hit early this year, which I think was a necessity so teams could get a start on sponsor shopping.

Is there something in the sanctioning fee and other financials that just makes ovals not work? Eddie Gossage has always stayed ahead of the curve by trying crazy stuff. Perhaps it is time for the IndyCar brain trust to try crazy stuff, like say, Saturday night races, Friday night qualifiers for the Saturday night race. Up and coming entertainment acts doing a show after the race, IndyCar drivers swapping cars and running WoO or Silver Crown, perhaps get the aero package back to the point where there are 60-plus lead changes among 12 cars… hell, anything to make the ovals interesting and fun for fans that may be seeing their first race, or are just causal fans at best, walk away saying, ‘that was freaking awesome’.

Troay Strong, Kansas City, MO

RM: Don’t see any ovals being added for 2021, but with Iowa, Kentucky and Chicago in limbo it’s possible one of them could find their way back onto a future schedule. All your suggestions sound great, but who is going to pay for them?

Q: I give you credit for having to deal with the complaining each week about “why no ovals?” or “why is this track not on the schedule?” etc., etc. The brass tacks are simple: because no-one is spending the money to put their butt in the seat. A simple rule of business is if they have to beat people away with a stick because the demand is so high, no one will walk away or change that cash cow. Complainer: if there are less ovals, it’s because you didn’t go and spend your dollars. It’s on you. Not Roger, Not IndyCar. Not NASCAR. Not your local dirt track. If it’s out of business, it’s because you didn’t give it business.

Tracey, IL

RM: Hard to disagree, Tracey. Those three years at Phoenix were so distressing, along with the last couple at Fontana, and Iowa kept changing dates and losing fans. Just look at photos of MIS, Milwaukee and Phoenix in 1995 and ask yourself: “where did everyone go?”

The dolphin probably has less drag than 2009's Force India VJM02, even with Adrian Sutil dangling from its dorsal fin. Motorsport Images

Q: I think we all agree Gateway has been a very successful oval track. I’ve been four times, and even through the pandemic there was a great crowd. Why can’t this success be replicated at other ovals? I think John Bommarito has created a really nice experience. Ticket prices are reasonable. Kids 15 and under are free. Vintage cars are on display. Lots of food vendors (other than year one). And multiple track activities during the day/evening. Do the other venues lack vision? Do they lack the passion for the sport? Clearly Gateway is the benchmark of a successful venue. The blueprint has been made; no need to try to reinvent the wheel. Just emulate something that has already been successful, right?

Mike in Newburgh, IN

RM: I think I’ve said this repeatedly: Gateway has a gung-ho owner in Curtis Francois, a gung-ho title sponsor in Bommarito, a smart GM in Chris Blair that understands today’s racing landscape and a first-class PR man in John Bisci. That’s the perfect storm as far as putting on an oval race, and to answer your question, I’ll give you an example of the direct opposite. Pocono didn’t promote IndyCar and didn’t lift a finger to make the fan experience enjoyable. Throw out a few vintage cars and the two-seater, and hope for the best. Gateway is the template for making today’s fan want to drive to St. Louis and spend the day. Unfortunately, IndyCar can’t rent them to go to another oval.

Q: The reason IndyCar can't draw crowds for ovals is simple: they don't provide enough bang for your buck as paying customers. With a typical oval race, there is one 90-minute to two-hour race per day on the schedule. That's it. The tracks are often in the middle of nowhere, and once you're in, you're in. You can't leave and then come back later. There is minimal garage access or interaction with drivers because they are all in the infield, which is often a hassle to get to.

Compare this to a street race.  I go to Toronto every year and it is a full festival starting 8 a.m. Friday and going until 6 p.m. every day for three days. You would have to be trying to be bored to not have something to do. You don't go more than 20 minutes without cars on the track. Beyond that, there are a dozen or more food trucks set up, interactive displays, rides, shopping, games, family entertainment options (like kids' go kart tracks). Additionally there are driver autograph sessions and easy fan access to the paddocks with credentials. Plus, you are downtown and can easily partake in the restaurants, attractions and the city scene at the end of the day.

For oval racing to survive, the tracks need to find a way to keep people entertained. The festival atmosphere of street races needs to be replicated to give people the same bang for their buck and to entice them to want to buy a ticket and come out for the weekend. One day with a two-hour race won't cut it anymore. The question is, which tracks are willing to and can do this?

Ben from Toronto

RM: Gateway is the only oval offering a full day of non-stop action, and you are spot-on – the days of people showing up and sitting the grandstands for a few hours waiting on the IndyCar race are long gone. You had best entertain the paying customers, and Texas has done it through the years with rallycross, Robby Gordon’s trucks, motorcycles and Legend cars with former Indy 500 stars. But unless a track picks up the feeder system races or adds a USAC series, it’s just like you said: a lot of driving, sitting and waiting for the main event, and that does not work anymore. Road races and street circuits are successful because they offer lots of racing and plenty of options.

Q: I see a lot of complaining about the schedule re: COTA, Richmond and Iowa. Fans need to attend races to show their support, especially ovals. Do I think taxicabs may have sabotaged IndyCar at these tracks? Maybe, but the real point is they are no friend of IndyCar, and Penske needs to play hardball. Lure Kyle Busch to race Indy. Provide tests to any other taxicab driver with the guts to race at Indy. The week after Indy is open next year. I know a track that belongs on the schedule the week after Indy at high noon: Milwaukee. Buy the track and make it a permanent fixture. Then add a second race there at night during State Fair. Oval problem almost solved.

Dan in Milwaukee

RM: NBC has preached to IndyCar and NASCAR they are on the same team, and you can see the cross-promotion of both on any Sunday. And Roger Penske owns NASCAR teams, so I think they’re going to work together (Brickyard in 2021) whenever possible. I can’t believe you snuck in a Milwaukee reference.

Q: I read your article about ovals being on the ropes, and you are absolutely right that it is not Roger Penske's fault. Penske deserves the ultimate credit for keeping the NTT IndyCar Series on the sports radar in 2020, especially considering the pandemic and economic downturn. I do wonder if some of Penske's employees at IndyCar deserve some of the blame for the oval ills. What is the series role in promoting events? Or do they leave that up to the individual tracks?

I don't think in today's day and age that IndyCar can have its head in the sand and expect the promoters to do all of the promotion; it needs to be a partnership, especially since it appears that promoting an IndyCar race is a money loser for the tracks. I know I wrote to you before the final Pocono race there was zero promotion in Pennsylvania except for a couple of billboards we saw heading towards the track. Gone are the days of billboards and newspapers working as the dominant advertising medium. It now takes a combination of things like digital, radio, TV and grassroots marketing – all areas where the Hulman-George regime failed miserably, and now Penske Entertainment Corp appears to be below the line.

Obviously promotion is the key to any event and you hit the nail on the head that Chris Blair and the folks at World Wide Technology Raceway have found keys to make it work, and Bommarito is a huge part of that.

Scott St. Clair, Erie, PA

RM: IndyCar has been forced into the promoter’s role at a few places (Phoenix, The Glen, Iowa) when it leased the tracks, and there is always a title sponsor presence in marketing the series. But to your point, IndyCar needs to spend money and help get the word out and introduce America to its young stars. But the responsibility falls on the tracks to bang the drum, and nobody does it better than Gateway.

We never run portrait-shaped shots in the Mailbag for obvious reasons, but this one from 2003 deserves to be the exception. Motorsport Images

Q: We all wish we could have the dream schedule for 2021 (like Watkins Glen and Pocono), but I have come to realize we already do. We have the IndyCar series racing after lots of doubts about any racing series running this year globally and a lot of sacrifice by many. Huge thanks to Roger Penske who gave his heart and soul, plus lots of money, to save the series and the 500 during this really difficult time. Many of the fans and Mailbag writers need to be grateful for what we have and how good this 2020 season has been. Could you imagine back in April there would be so much excitement by now to talk about?

Rob C.

RM: I truly figured it would be the Indy road course race, the Indy 500 and maybe Road America, because races were being canceled every week and it took Penske’s perseverance to give us a pretty damn entertaining season.

Q: I read with much amusement the bitching and moaning over the 2021 schedule – especially Jim's comment (he's 66) from Canada about the schedule. Fifty years ago the schedule had 18 race dates. Of those race dates, one was a Hill Climb (Pikes Peak) non-championship, five were on dirt (Springfield, Du Quoin, Hoosier Hundred, Sedalia, Sacramento) three were road courses (Sonoma, Continental Divide, Indianapolis Raceway Park), and the others were ovals: Phoenix (2), Trenton (2), Indy 500, Milwaukee (2), Langhorne, Michigan and Ontario. You'll note that Indy doesn't race on dirt anymore, there are no more non-championship races, and with the exception of Indy, all the ovals are gone from the 1970 schedule.

And when they were on the schedule, the oval races ran twice. You'll also note that in the very beginnings of "IndyCar" races – in the days before board tracks and the takeover of horse tracks converted to auto racing tracks – with the exception Indy, every auto race was either a road circuit or a point-to-point race, ovals were almost non-existent. I guess my point is two fold: you race where you can find a venue, and everything old is new again. IndyCar racing still exists, we should all be thankful for that, right?

Jake, California Exile

RM: There is no denying that ovals put open-wheel on the map, and the combination of danger/excitement elevated its profile in the '60s and '70s. I loved dirt cars, but road courses provided a new challenge and we quickly learned that A.J., Mario, Ruby and the Unsers could hold their own against Gurney. Ovals are IndyCar’s heritage and there is still nothing as exciting as Indianapolis, but it’s a different game and audience today. And, yes, we should be happy to have 12 races – let alone 17.

Q: It seems like the IMS road course could be adjusted to make a short oval race at Indy. Look at a top-down map. The backstretch could be extended to the main oval. It seems an adjustment could also be made at the opposite side (near Turn 4 on the traditional oval). If we have already conceded races at Indy, and maybe doubles weekends, a modification to Indy could get us a unique roval. Seems the midwest, and Indianapolis would take to a roval race on a double-race weekend. The midwest is IndyCar’s base! Your thoughts on that as a possibility? Also, a race on Friday seems dumb. Unless you were really looking at the specific dates, most assumed, me included, a Saturday and Sunday double.

Tim Gleason, Chicago

RM: Interesting concept, but I tend to think the only oval people want to see at Indy is for 500 miles in May. However, if you could figure out an IMS roval that might be a hook, although I can’t imagine it being better that the last two road course shows.

Q: I just can't believe the amount of negativity in the Mailbag about the 2021 schedule. What a bunch of crybabies, it was unreal. I like the schedule. The main point for me is the huge gap between St. Pete and Barber. Is it possible to add a race somewhere in a warm area, or going to Mexico? With Pato on board, I am sure it will be a hit.

Phildawg

RM: Not at the moment, I think IndyCar is like everyone else – waiting to see where this pandemic is by early next year. Mexico City won’t be in play next year, but possibly by 2022 when O’Ward should be a big name.

Q: What are the chances we can see Cleveland again? I attended the 2000 race where Moreno led start to finish and there was a decent turnout, but that was a different era. I would love to see this new formula on the airport. Any thoughts?

Ryan D.

RM: Because I didn’t recognize your name or address, I let this Cleveland letter run. Yes we’d all love to see a race return to Burke Lakefront but there is no promoter, no sponsor, no push from the city and no chance at the moment.

Australian touring car icon Craig Lowndes forged his reputation by leading Holden's fight against the Ford Falcons at Bathurst, and then drove Falcons himself when he changed manufacturers in 2001. Neither experience apparently prepared him for an encounter with the real thing. Motorsport Images

Q: Has there been a increase in ratings since NBC took over? I don't care about road courses. Last Saturday’s race was so boring! Watching Will Power drive around over and over was not exciting. Hoping Colton Herta would chase him down wasn't going to happen. And my favorite drivers (Hinch+Helio) were never in the Top 5. It's a total bummer.

Linda A.

RM: There has been a slight, steady increase as you would expect with eight races on network (nine next year) and NBC doing a great job of promoting. Do yourself a favor and go back and watch the Friday Harvest race at IMS, and then tell me you think road racing is boring.

Q: With Andretti Autosport involved in the race for the last Leader’s Circle spot and not the overall championship, other than competitive pride, is there anything in the rules that would prevent them from putting Rossi in the No.98 car and Marco in the No.27 for the last race?

Jim Sarow, Whitefish Bay, WI

RM: The car earns the points, that’s why Hinch and Seb were brought in early – to try and secure those spots. So Andretti could swap those guys, although I’m sure there are sponsor ramifications that would have to be worked out for Rossi.

Q: Isn't it time to give Chase Elliott a chance to drive an IndyCar on a road course? Whenever there is a road course on the schedule, Chase kicks everyone's backside, including that of future open-wheel driver Jimmie Johnson. Chase has the speed, has the charisma and if his dad shows up at the track, will have a following.

Jacco, Utrecht, Holland

RM: First off, who says he wants to drive an IndyCar? I think Daytona and the NASCAR title are his immediate goals, and then maybe he’d give IndyCar a try if so desired. He’s obviously a good road racer and might sell some tickets.

Q: In response to Dan Spata's question about teams monitoring Push To Pass, if you are using the IndyCar mobile app on your phone and have the timing and scoring application running, you can see when a driver is using push to pass. It would not be that difficult for a team member to have the app running and relay that information to their driver. I was actually very surprised to see this when I pulled up the app while in my seat for the race. Like Dan, I assumed that this information was not available to anyone. It is not displayed on the TV broadcast. I like Will Power's idea of P2P lockout. If the trailing car is within one second, the car ahead would not be able to use P2P to defend.

Ben R.

RM: Thanks Ben. I like Will’s idea too, and the element of surprise or awareness is non-existent in the current setup.

Q: I watch as much IndyCar and F1 as I can. F1 uses the DRS system to allow passing on certain straightaways during a race to allow for extra speed for passing. IndyCar uses push to pass to get more fuel to the engine. Is DRS a specific F1 technology, or could it be adapted to IndyCar? IndyCar seems to be going more towards the road course type tracks, and DRS seems to be a way to allow more passing and not using fuel consumption to do so.

Don Barnes

RM: I have very few lucid thoughts on technology but thankfully Marshall Pruett can save me: “DRS is not an exclusive piece of technology. The German DTM series has made use of it for a few years, and it could be incorporated into the next IndyCar design, if desired by the series.”

Q: My suggestion is to NBC. With tire strategy becoming more and more important, I would like there to be an icon on the scoring table on screen identifying the tire a driver is currently on. It could be as simple as a black or red dot by the driver’s name. After every pit cycle, I am always searching for what tire this or that driver is on, and if a driver is off-screen or mid-pack, you have no idea what they are running. I know the commentators mention tire choice on occasion, but having this info for all drivers readily available will increase the TV viewing experience. If possible, please pass on recommendation to NBC.

Miles, California

RM: I passed it on to our producer, Terry Lingner and he liked the idea, so maybe we can incorporate it into next year’s races. Thanks Miles.

Q: Help me out with something Robin, for I am perplexed. It seems clear the Dallara/Firestone combo loves a cooler track condition, but here is my dilemma with that: racing occurs during the summer, when it’s going to be hot! How on earth does the engineering not take that into account? When these cars have it cooler they race amazingly; it’s too bad there are only two to three months (or only night races) on the schedule where the cars can gives us that.

Pat Jenkins, Columbus, OH

RM: Let me defer to the talented Cara Adams, director of race tire engineering for Bridgestone America: “Track and ambient conditions affect the performance of the car as a whole. Our compounders design compounds for a wide range of weather conditions, from 50 degrees Fahrenheit to well over 100 degrees. Compounds need to be versatile enough to work well in the whole range of conditions, but as track and ambient temperatures change, the performance of the entire system of the car (tires, aero, engine) changes.”

And with the letters about the schedule now behind us, regular photo service can resume. Firestone's IndyCar rubber can work at wide variety of temperatures, but there's definitely such a thing as too cold – as anyone who was at this year's COTA pre-season test will tell you. Levitt/Motorsport Images

Q: The talk about the recent NASCAR schedule and comparing it to IndyCar with apparent complaints of NASCAR wanting to sabotage IndyCar (which I don't believe) has got me thinking. In general, I feel it's vital for motorsport series to cooperate and mutually benefit fans and themselves like when IndyCar and IMSA run together! It brings value and introduces fans from different ends of the sport. Obviously big headline events are one thing, but what about for other events? I'm 27 so I still love traveling for all sorts of racing events, but having more series come together like at Long Beach brings a nice serving of racing in one shot.

I hope NASCAR and IndyCar remember that the health of each can benefit the another as well, so they shouldn't be afraid to work together on some unique and different race opportunities. Oval or road course! To be honest NASCAR and IndyCar in the same weekend at COTA would be epic. Who cares about lap times? F1 in Montreal had Porsche Cup. I went to World Touring Car Championship in Portugal and they had GT racing with historics too! Different cars with different performance won't hurt anyone's brand. They just give a great opportunity for people to see different and unique racing experiences. It enriches the fan base.

Derrick F.

RM: At the risk of sounding repetitious, Roger Penske knows the value of a doubleheader since he’s hosted IndyCar/IMSA for several years, and I think if there’s a way to make it happen more often, he’ll do it. I agree it gives the weekend a decided boost for the fans.

Q: Been a loyal A.J. fan since the '60s and was very happy to see Sebastien Bourdais join the team. I know it will take time for good results to come, but was hoping for a better showing in the Indy GP. Have you had any communication with A.J. or Sebastian on what problems they ran into?

Lynn Gulch

RM: No, just the usual teething problems and trying to be competitive against full-timers after having been out of the car for seven months. I think Helio and Seb knew it would be a challenging weekend, so say the least.

Q: Now, for the most important Mailbag question. When do we get the Bacon & French Fry jousting debate back?

Bill in CA

RM: Depending on the pandemic and ongoing recovery of Marshall’s wife, possibly the test for the Rolex 24 in January. If not then, hopefully the Rolex itself.

Q: When I was down at Indy for the two races this weekend I stopped into one of the main street bars that Friday night with a friend. We started talking to the bartender who said everyone was thrilled that Penske bought the Speedway. He then went on to saying something like “when they light the Speedway.” I pursued this thought with him further, and inquired why he thought they were going to light the Speedway. He indicated to me that he thought it was going to happen since they already had a town hearing about it, at which everyone was receptive. He also mentioned a 24-hour race.

Have you heard anything about this? Did a town meeting about this really happen? I assume it’s just lights for the road course, as I don’t see them lighting the oval just for the 500 since that is the only major race run on the oval now. I also can’t see Indy being run at night, especially having to go up against the NASCAR race from Charlotte. Any thoughts or insight??

Ken E., Geneva, IL

RM: I didn’t hear anything about a board meeting, but the town of Speedway would likely have to give its OK to have a night race. I do know that Mark Miles said a few years ago it would be $20 million to light the track and there wasn’t much interest. I know R.P. wants an endurance race but you can run without lights at Sebring, so IMS doesn’t need them. And I can never imagine the Indy 500 as a night race.

Q: Regarding the new engine formulas for IndyCar, IMSA and NASCAR, has there ever been any serious discussion regarding common engines/block/components?  I don’t recall the individual quoted, but it was recently mentioned that a common formula would prove to be more appealing to manufacturers – a seemingly obvious no-brainer. Given the economic climate and the forthcoming changes to each series’ regulations, it would appear that now would be the optimum time for a common set of engine/hybrid regulations. Are the challenges associated with applying a single system to three very different cars and series too significant to overcome?

KB, Tampa Bay

RM: Another save by Pruett: “I am unaware of any conversations between the three series mentioned to use the same engines. NASCAR owns IMSA, so I would look for some in-house discussions to have been held there, but as IndyCar is both a rival and not owned by the stock car series, I can't foresee such a thing taking place.”

Q: More of a personal question than an IndyCar one: have you seen a Grand Prix? I mean a real one, not the things calling themselves 'The Grand Prix of Cleveland' or some such. And if so, did you attend as a mere fan in the grandstand, or with full media access? What were your impressions, comparing F1 to IndyCar? I'm a fan of both disciplines, and while I see the level higher (talent, engineering, glamour) in F1, I've always been more entertained attending IndyCar races.

A. Jenkins, Mono, Ontario

RM: I went to the U.S. Grand Prix as a fan with Johnny Parsons and Dana Carter after the USAC dirt race at Syracuse was rained out, and I covered it for The Indianapolis Star a couple of times. I always loved The Glen and the sound of an F1 engine screaming up the hill, but I didn’t know anyone so it was fun but a different perspective. Especially down by The Bog.

Q: Enjoyed your Tough Guy series. What was the issue with USAC that led to the formation of CART? And can you do a video on it? I know my dad didn't really care for USAC because of how they handled things at times. USAC always gave the feeling they were God and did not respect the fact that without race car owners, drivers, cars and fans, they were absolutely nothing. NASCAR kind of has the same feel today.

Brian W.

RM: Basically it was USAC’s overall arrogance and refusal to grow the series, and share information or be honest with the competitors. Everything Dan Gurney said in his White Paper was true, and USAC deserved to lose IndyCar and, eventually, the Indy 500. Not sure I could do a short video on this, but maybe 10 minutes.

Q: A friend of mine is looking for a book or website or DVD about the definitive history of sprint cars. Any suggestions I can offer him? FYI – the R.P. haters and 2021 schedule dissidents that seem compelled to use the Mailbag to vent are getting a little old. Thanks for calling them out. Great to hear your voice from IMS last weekend.

Harrison

RM: Buy the books Full Tilt by John Mahoney, Lone Wolf by Dave Argabright, Fearless by Gene Crucean and Modern Thunder by Pat Sullivan, Mahoney and Argabright. Go to Coastal181.com and they have them all, but Modern Thunder is the history of USAC sprinters, and probably the most detailed.

F1 at Watkins Glen, 1980: Formula 1 done Miller-style. Motorsport Images

Q: I was hoarse for a day after screaming during the Harvest GP race on Friday. I told my race-watching buddies that race was better than all the F1 races I have ever watched combined. It was fantastic from start to finish. Had a thought though while watching, with the camera from the air showing IMS, and the news in my head from NASCAR saying that they are going to turn Bristol into a dirt track for a race. We have a dirt track inside the Speedway. We should be racing on it.

I know: money, money, money. The owners in IndyCar spend more on lunch every year than what it would cost to add a couple midget cars to their fleet. It would be a total blast to see IndyCar drivers racing on that dirt track at the Speedway, for series points. It adds an oval to the schedule, and everybody is bitching about not enough ovals on the recently released schedule. Instead of quick excuses, serious thought needs to be given, excuses overcome, and a race happens. IndyCar absolutely needs a dirt race, for the sake of heritage if nothing else. Is it at all possible?

Aaron Carrico

RM: No car owner (besides Ed Carpenter) would let their driver run a midget or sprinter unless it was some kind of staged exhibition among IndyCar drivers (which I tried but failed to put together a couple years ago prior to the inaugural BC39). Conor Daly, Santino Ferrucci and James Davison all ran the Chili Bowl this year, but that’s as close to a dirt race as you’re going to get.

Q: Even at the time of the 1971 Questor Grand Prix at Ontario Motor Speedway, some knew that the contest of F1 cars against F5000 cars would be a gross mismatch. The race results bore that out, pathetically. It could've been predicted easily by comparing lap times at European tracks used by both classes. F5000-mounted USAC Indy drivers were set up to fail. It was almost as farcical as the Race of Two Worlds in the '50s.

I say the organizers of the race should've instead had the USAC drivers enter in their Champ Cars. The F1 cars' agility, braking and cornering performance would've had them running circles around the Champ Cars in the infield road course. But the latter, running turbo Offys and Fords, would've rocketed away on the long straightaway. Imagine the Johnny Lightning 500 Special battling the Ferrari 312B! I seem to remember that later Bobby Unser in his Eagle-Offy drove away from Mario's matchless F5000 Lola-Chevy at an SCCA-USAC race at Riverside, lending credence to my belief that F1 and Champ Car would perform similarly. Do you agree that Champ Car vs. F1 might've produced much better competition at OMS? (My guess is that too many egos on both sides wouldn't be risked).

Anthony Valdettaro, Indianapolis (formerly Boston)

RM: Nobody was surprised F5000 cars got destroyed by F1 cars (why do you think A.J. clutched that box he was driving?) and I imagine the Indy cars would have fared better but still been no match for F1 cars on that twisting Ontario layout.

Q: I attended the Harvest Grand Prix for the second race. It was great to see the cars and hear the engines after missing the 500 and a trip to Barber. I was very impressed how Mr. Penske has cleaned up the IMS. I entered the front gate and right away I was impressed by the presentation of the grounds. Everything was neat and clean. Fresh paint and updated graphics gave it a very welcoming feeling. The screening of the eating areas, picnic tables, large screens to see on-track action while in the courtyard… the whole place reminded me of Barber Motor Sport Park. While sitting in the lower area of the paddock seats, I looked up to see that the roof was clear of birds nest and dirt. Attention to detail, just like you see in Team Penske cars and trucks. Thank you, Mr. Penske, for taking over the Speedway, it could not be in better hands. IndyCar has a bright future now thanks to Roger.

Tom Gish, Louisville, KY

RM: Thanks, Tom, for ending The Mailbag on a positive note.