Robin Miller’s Mailbag for February 10, 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 comment on Romain Grosjean’s decision not to run Indy or Texas. Curiously, I just read an amazing article about Ted Horn. Horn drove anything and everything, breaking through from an inauspicious start to become one of IndyCar’s greats. He was injured seriously multiple times, saw his contemporaries maimed and killed, but rarely missed a chance to do what he loved.

This brings me to Grosjean. Yes, he had a life-threatening accident, but I would say he and few of today’s drivers in any top discipline have the commitment and desire of a Ted Horn or Rex Mays. His arrival in IndyCar is hugely anticlimactic because he brings no star power, accomplishments or larger-than-life persona, and he isn’t up for the biggest auto racing challenge on earth. No wonder motorsports is on the decline. The cars and tracks have been child-proofed, and most drivers still complain about safety. I find myself feeling like there is next to no risk anymore, and today’s drivers except for a few notable exceptions are not worth watching. I don’t want anyone to get hurt, but without the risk and larger-than-life personalities, what have we really got?

Steve, St. Petersburg, FL

RM: I had the same reaction, because it stuns your senses when somebody says they want to try Indy cars but the biggest race isn’t for them. I know Jimmie Johnson wants to run the Indy 500 but promised his wife he wouldn’t, and Grosjean said he didn’t want to cause his wife and children any undue stress. That’s fine, but it does grate on us old-schoolers because nobody ever took that stance in the ’50s, ’60s or ’70s -- they knew Indy was dangerous but also a big part of their job, and if they didn’t run somebody else would jump in their seat. It’s just a different world and mindset today, and that gladiator persona no longer exists. That’s kinda why I wrote last Monday’s column. That danger element helped drive Indy cars to the heights of popularity -- not because people wanted to see death and destruction, but because not a lot of people could do it and it was only for gunfighters.

Q: How do you think Marcus Ericsson will fare this year? Challenge for a few podiums and/or race wins? Nine top 10s and three top fives last year were impressive to me. I guess if I were Grosjean, I’d try to chase what Ericsson has done in IndyCar since his arrival from F1.

Eric in Wisconsin

RM: I thought he drove a helluva lot better than he results showed last season (12th in points), and I think he’ll do both of the things you suggested in 2021.

Bright skies ahead for Ericsson this year. Michael Levitt/Motorsport Images

Q: Romain Grosjean has destroyed a lot of cars in F1. (Not Andrea de Cesaris levels, but a lot...). Can Dale Coyne keep up with him? Did Grosjean bring money, and from where? Any rumors on an oval runner for his car (Spencer Pigot would be ideal), or are they expecting to need that extra time to straighten his chassis and vacuum up carbon fiber in the shop?

Brett, DFW

RM: I don’t know much about him, but Edd Straw wrote a good column earlier this week that gives some insight. Obviously he brought money but not idea where from and it’s probably way too early to be thinking about Indy. I imagine Dale has crash damage built into a contract. Love to see Pigot in a car this May, but it will likely come down to who can find some sponsorship.

Q: If Penske goes back to three cars next year, who do you think is the odd man out? It would seem either Pagenaud or Power would be likely -- or could it come down to McLaughlin's performance in 2021? We know Josef isn't going anywhere.

Brian Henris, Fort Mill, SC

RM: This is the last year of the contracts for Power and Pagenaud, but I imagine a lot hinges on how McLaughlin performs this season. Will is still as fast, if not faster, than anyone, but he’s almost 40 and Simon is 36, and we know The Captain is always looking down the road. I would think Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward and Rinus VeeKay might be in his sightlines.

Q: Don't forget that Swiss IndyCar racing driver Simona De Silvestro: 1) has an engineering degree, 2) promotes STEM and 3) supports Women in Engineering. I don't know if she intends to put any of that on her IndyCar or not. Do you think that Roger Penske might go along with Simona supporting these noble causes too? It might bring more fans to the IndyCar races. And have you ever heard of a female over-the-wall pit crew?

Bill in CA

RM: It’s probably going to be up to Beth Paretta and R.P. to decide what’s on the car, but I wouldn’t think he would object to supporting the cause with a decal. Never heard of a full female crew over the wall, but Tess Clustivik-Gape and Anna Chatten were the first two I knew of that serviced Indy cars.

Q: Did you catch any of the 24 hours of Daytona? The feel-good moment of the race was Oliver Askew (with his teammates Gar Robinson, Spencer Pigot and Scott Andrews) winning the LMP3 class. I don't know if a really nice wristwatch can make up for the loss of an IndyCar ride, but it probably softened the blow. The circumstances around his dismissal from AMSP were odd, to say the least. If I had to guess, it was as much about money as it was about him being concussed (or even the way the public learned of his concussion). I've always been a fan of IndyCar and IMSA. It is nice to see he has found a home in IMSA. Do you think Oliver will get a second chance in IndyCar someday?

Jonathan and Cleide Morris, Ventura, CA

RM: That was cool for Askew and Pigot, but I don’t think money had anything to do with Oliver’s dismissal. But Mike Hull was always high on his talent, and I do think he’s going to get another shot with somebody in IndyCar.

Q: So currently the IndyCar schedule is almost all road/street courses, almost everyone is a pay driver, there are not many American drivers, anyone who can goes to NASCAR, there are no dirt track/Midwest drivers, no name brand sponsors, no one at most races and terrible TV ratings. Remind me again what the point of the IRL was?

Steve M.

RM: Not sure where you get your information, but at least half of the drivers are on salary and others get a percentage of the sponsorship they bring. I’d say Verizon, NAPA, Auto Nation, NTT, PNC Bank, DHL, United Rental and Hitachi are fairly well-known in the United States. The last time fans were allowed in en masse, Road America, Mid-Ohio, Long Beach and Gateway drew damn good crowds and, yes, ovals aren’t drawing like they use to and it’s tougher and tougher to get a promoter willing to take a risk. But NASCAR is headed to COTA and Road America because it sees road racing as a draw. The TV ratings are lousy, no argument, but the IRL’s original goal was American drivers and all ovals and that eventually morphed into CART Lite a few years later.

Q: How ironic is it that NASCAR is adding road races and IndyCar is losing ovals. How long before the Earth begins to rotate in the opposite direction?

John from Seville, Ohio

RM: It’s not ironic, it’s good business. NASCAR’s attendance at Watkins Glen is enormous and I imagine COTA will pack them in, as well as Road America when it’s added. Street circuits and road courses are IndyCar’s lifeblood because they offer easy access, camping out or a full weekend of non-stop racing. Only Gateway has figured out how to try and keep up with them.

Q: I have purchased tickets for every IndyCar event at Barber and have enjoyed the race every time. With the race just over two months away, I've heard nothing about buying tickets. The website still says that tickets are coming soon. Is there a problem, or am I missing something?

David, Waxhaw, NC

RM: I just think they’re waiting to see what Alabama allows in terms of crowds.

Q: What can you tell us about Jarett Andretti? I started following him on Instagram a while back and had no idea John's son was splitting his time between sports cars and sprint cars. That kind of mix reminds me of the old days when drivers raced whatever they could. He looks like he's having a ball.

Victor, Toronto

RM: Smart kid, college grad who didn’t start racing until much later in life compared to the Kyle Larsons and Colton Hertas. His dad started him in USAC sprints and that wasn’t easy, but he got better and better before sports cars came calling. He really seems to be a good road racer and is now in IMSA’s Prototype Challenge.

Askew is looking for a path back to IndyCar, but collecting Rolexes seems like a good way to keep busy in the meantime. Jake Galstad/Motorsport Images

Q: Got any feel for the number of entries in Indy Lights this year? Is the Freedom 100 on Carb Day doomed forever? Why? What a great show and showcase for those young drivers. And for the fans, too. Haven't heard anything about Jeff Andretti in years. What's he been up to?

Jim, Indy

RM: I’ve heard at least 12, and no Freedom for 2021 because the IMS owner said so. Jeff now lives in Arizona.

Q: What does IndyCar and the Road to Indy program need to do to keep Road to Indy champions in the series after one season? Without McLaren we wouldn’t have Pato, as he was almost completely out before even getting a fair chance. Ed Jones had to take a year off, but he was very quickly dropped by Chip when he left Dale. And now Askew is without a ride. In NASCAR it’s very rare to see a former ladder series champion out of a ride in some capacity. Rookies are given tons of time (sometimes too much time), but at least they get multiple years to learn and develop. Take William Byron, for example. He’s an Xfinity Series champion who has only one Cup win in top equipment his first two years, and some argue it was a fluke. But Hendrick has kept him in the car despite him having some pretty mediocre results compared to his teammates.

To me, if Jones or Askew were given two or three years with the same team, same car, and same engineers around them, we would really see these guys grow into stars. We’ve seen it with Colton Herta. Granted, Colton has a phenomenal program, but the consistency sure helps a lot. As always, would love your take on this, and congratulations on your much-deserved Hall of Fame induction!

Ben, Noblesville, IN

RM: The $1 million you win for the Lights title gets your foot in the door with IndyCar, but no guarantees to stay after that. Spencer Pigot got three years, more or less, without bringing any money, so that was rare, and it’s pretty obvious O’Ward is going to be a star so I have idea why AMSP was his only suitor. But car owners are fickle: they want something proven and not many take chances unless the driver brings money. But don’t kid yourself, they have to bring money in NASCAR, too.

Q: As we're getting ready for the 2021 season, I was wondering if you would take a page out of college football's book and give us your pre-season top 25 (or top 10) ranking of U.S.-based drivers? Who are you expecting to be the guys in ’21 across the nation?

Michael in Brownsburg

RM: Here’s a list, but in no order: Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Alex Palou, Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi, Jack Harvey, Rinus VeeKay, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Chris Bell, Brady Bacon, Chris Windom, Buddy Kofoid, Justin Grant, Brad Sweet, Chase Stockon, David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild, Donnie Schatz, Gio Scelzi and Tyler Courtney.

Q: I was wondering because of today’s uncertain economic climate, what percentage of drivers — say in IndyCar and World of Outlaws sprint cars— are covered by racing insurance in case of injury on the track? Are many drivers hoping for best and racing without it?

Stan, Seattle

RM: The racing series all have insurance but most drivers also have personal policies, especially since so many have children. Back in the 1970s we could get a policy for $25 a month that paid a whopping $125 a month if you were hurt, so obviously times have changed and some serious money is spent on protecting drivers.

Q: Many hope a third manufacturer joins IndyCar. I don't see it happening purely based on the TV numbers. What happens if both Chevy and Honda say they've had enough? Does the series fold, or does IndyCar look to lower tech (NASCAR or WoO type power) to make up the difference? Or does IndyCar simply dust off the old drawings of turbo V8s and get, say, Cosworth or Ilmor to start production? Yes, this would require chassis mods. V8s are heavier and lap times would suffer, but so what? It is a spec series, so everyone would be "penalized" equally. I think the loss of manufacturers that sponsor racetracks might be a bigger blow. Would the cost to participate go down? Am I being too simplistic?

Orangemen, Urbana, Ohio

RM: It’s obviously been difficult to find that third engine manufacturer and it may not be out there, but I imagine if Honda or Chevy bailed, the other would service the entire field like Honda did for several seasons. If they both left, then it’s time to get creative and I trust The Captain would find an alternative. But replacing Honda and Chevy would be very hard because of all the things they do.

Shoehorning one of these things into the current IndyCar would probably be a bit of a project. Michael Levitt/Motorsport Images

Q: Was I the only person who was cheering the move to Peacock? Sure, for the serious fan, subscribing to an expensive cable/satellite/streaming TV package is no big deal in order to get NBCSN. Sure, adding an NBC Sports Gold package is just a drop in the bucket. But the reality is that those costs are hard for people who have families, bills to pay and other interests outside of IndyCar. Individually all these subscription services are not that much, but at some point they add up. Try adding a TV package and NBC Sports Gold to HBOMax, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+, Netflix, Amazon, AppleTV+, Showtime, Starz, CBS All-Access... I could keep going. That's a big monthly bill that will come due.

The fact remains that with Peacock, shows like The Office, House, Law and Order, Yellowstone and English Premier League soccer will actually bring exposure to IndyCar. People open up Peacock to watch The Office and will see an ad for IndyCar. Maybe you'll actually get a couple of new fans. Heck, people can downgrade their TV package and use it to subscribe to Peacock (while still getting NBC and USA).

While some people may choose to leave Peacock off of their chosen subscriptions, I think it has a better chance of being selected compared to NBC Sports Gold. While it's easy to look at Nielsen ratings, every user of Peacock (and every other streaming service) has their activity tracked. Watching a race or qualifying on another day will be known by NBC Universal and will contribute to whether they keep going with IndyCar in the future. Ask Netflix what they think about Nielsen ratings. More races on NBC will obviously be better because you can actually still get that channel for free with an antenna if you're close enough to a broadcast tower. More people have access to the channel. No guarantees going forward, but the imminent failure of IndyCar is not set in stone. Don't fret IndyCar fans; Indycar moving content away from NBCSN/NBC Sports Gold to USA/Peacock is a good thing.

Tom, Greenwood, SC

RM: The reaction was about 60/40 in favor of Peacock but I agree, it will be the best thing for IndyCar. Not sure how many new fans it will make, but at least it could attract a curious channel flipper and maybe hook him or her. I received several letters this week suggesting Roku as am affordable way to watch Peacock, so people might want to check that out.

Q: In your Motorsports HOF article, you mention Jim Shampine, arguably the Super Modified GOAT and real King of Oswego. Any idea what your pal Bentley Warren thought of him, and how come Jim never got a sniff in Indy cars?

Steve in NH

RM: You letter gave me a good excuse to call Bentley, who was packing up to go fishing, boating and who knows what at Lake Havasu. I asked about Shampine and here’s what he said: “Such an innovator, such a great driver and such a class act. After he won that World of Outlaws race he called me because he was so happy. He had to adjust his style for that race, and did it but he was such a finesse driver. Not sure why he never gave Indy a shot, he hardly ever mentioned it, but he would have been good. Tell Vuky and the boys at lunch hello for me. Hopefully I’ll see you in May.”

Q: One thing I see as a continuing pattern in the Mailbag is the little brother syndrome when it comes to IndyCar fans looking at NASCAR. Racing viewership is down across both series compared to their peaks, and racing overall is a niche sport. Being petty about another series’ ratings accomplishes nothing. Are people really so against NASCAR that they’re blind to what cross-promotion of the series can allow? That was all anyone could talk about with NBC last year, and now they’d rather bitch about Peacock. A twin billing on a weekend would be huge for eyes on open-wheel racing!

Also, I’m over European drivers being afraid. Romain Grosjean said he nixed ovals after his crash at Bahrain... an open road course. Racing is dangerous regardless of the track. We will never be able to completely eliminate the risk. Embrace the full series, run for the championship, and be a racer!

Desmond, Oak Lawn, IL

RM: NASCAR races or practice sessions leading into an IndyCar race always guarantees better ratings, and NBC has made it a point for both series to co-promote each other. Like it or not, NASCAR can be IndyCar’s best ally on television. Marcus Ericsson embraced ovals and Alexander Rossi seems pretty damn good at a certain place in Indy, so not all F1 drivers are against it.

Q: I am writing as a response to the question about why fans prefer watching the "taxi cabs tradin' paint" over Indy cars. Both are exciting forms of motorsports. Which one fans prefer most is up to them. You pointed out pretty much everything I would. Regardless how down NASCAR has come since the ’90s/2000s, its drivers are still popular. Chase Elliott was all over Mountain Dew commercials when he was an athlete for them. Bubba Wallace is on commercials for Root. Ryan Newman is on Guaranteed Rate commercials, I can keep going. Not only does Daytona out-draw Indy (despite NBC's best efforts, and NBC has promoted the hell out of IndyCar) but NASCAR's stars still appear in TV commercials, and NASCAR toys are all over Target, and Walmart, whether it be cars or Funko Pops. The only IndyCar drivers I can remember in commercials lately are Helio in Pennzoil, Hinch for Honda and RHR in ButterBall. I never find IndyCar-related anything in Target or Walmart.

As for Daytona, FOX does a hell of a job promoting the 500. It depicts it as NASCAR's Super Bowl, which it is. And this year’s FOX commercial hyping up not only Daytona, but the season in general, is one of the best promotional advertisements I've seen in a while. Maybe we agree or disagree to my points. But as you said, networks, and corporations still love NASCAR.

Kevin, North Carolina

RM: Couldn’t agree more. Exposure is so important, and IndyCar has very little compared to NASCAR. That commercial you speak of is brilliant (Kyle Busch at the press conference looking at the camera and saying he was only there so he wouldn’t get fined is so perfect). Remember Matt Kenseth rescuing the cat and Kyle helping the old lady across the street? That’s what IndyCar needs. Those commercials you spoke of don’t even identify the driver. IndyCar has personalities but they need to be introduced to the American public, and IndyCar needs to go in with NBC and create a 60-second infomercial about the stars. Make it funny and human.

Now you mention it, a commercial with a pocket-sized Will Power and Colton Herta would probably be pretty funny.

Q: A few days ago I started thinking about the new IndyCar season ahead of us, then started thinking what races I wanted to attend this year, then realized there weren't any within at least a seven-hour drive. I used to attend Watkins Glen, Pocono, Baltimore and Richmond, among others. Have you heard anything about any races being added to the schedule in the next couple years for fans in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast? This is a sizable hole in the schedule that I hope gets fixed soon.

Tom P.

RM: I have not Tom, but the natural fit would be Watkins Glen if a suitable date and partner could be found (hint, hint IMSA). I don’t think there’s enough money to get VIR ready for IndyCar, and there was talk of the Charlotte roval but that’s died down, so I’m sorry. I wish Baltimore could have hung in there because it was a great track with good crowds.

Q: As preseason testing has commenced, the fan interest in seeing a race at Sebring has ramped up on social media. As mentioned many times, it’s understood that the track surface is not ideal with all the bumps. But I was wondering, which track would be the roughest over the course of a race, Sebring or Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport? Also, that being said, was Cleveland the roughest track that IndyCar has run a race on, and if not, which tracks stood out?

Jamie Doellinger, Wrightsville, PA

RM: Sebring would beat up Indy cars, and San Jose had a jump and a bump so it was also pretty nasty. Cleveland had a couple of character-builders but the racing was so good we never noticed. Las Vegas’ street circuit downtown had a ramp but it got fixed immediately, and I’m thinking the second Miami course broke up and was pretty rough, but can’t remember for sure. But none of them were as bad as Langhorne.

Q: I know you said in the past that CART lacked a vision, but do you believe that if they had a stronger leader like a Bill France or Bernie Ecclestone calling all the shots with an iron fist it could've helped the series long-term?

Ron, Portland, OR

RM: I believe if Dan Gurney or Roger Penske had decided to run CART it would have blown NASCAR in the weeds, but they were racers so open-wheel was rudderless in the ’90s and 2000s. I recall the late, great Morris Nunn asking Bernie at the 2000 USGP at Indy if he would consider buying the IRL and Champ Car, merging them and running them, and Ecclestone smiled and said: “Are you mad, Morris?”

Q: I was watching the ’89 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on YouTube and the engine note of all the cars sounded a little different than from races in ’90 and ’91. During this time nearly the entire field was using this engine, correct?

Rob Peterson, Rochester, NY

RM: There were Chevys, Cosworths, Buicks, Judds and a Porsche in that race, and they certainly didn’t sound alike.

Q: After the 2007 CART/Champ Car season there were tons of very strong rumors the series was either going to fold mid-season or wouldn't even get off the ground for the 2008 season. So if the merger never happened, what do you think would have been the outcome for the series that year?

Dan, Buffalo, NY

RM: I have no idea, but I think Gerry Forsythe was prepared to spend whatever was necessary to keep the series going.

Q: Robin, congratulations on the HOF, it is well deserved. Like you, I hope more journalists will soon follow. One not on your list but I will add is Economaki.

I remember an SI article in the ’60s about someone, I think it was Lear, building a steam-powered car for Indy. I don't think it was ever entered, however, Formula 1 brought rear engines, Granatelli brought turbines, Yunick had his sidecar, or pontoon car, and Thompson's ill-fated, cars were almost full-bodied. Was it run what you brung then, or were the rules just really, really loose? If the technology was available back then, could someone have brought an electric or hydrogen-powered car?

Bruce K, Philadelphia

RM: Economaki was inducted 20 years ago, and yes, it was always run what ya brung. There was talk of a battery-powered Indy car once but never heard anything about hydrogen. That’s what was so exciting about the ’60s -- you couldn’t wait to see what rolled out of Gasoline Alley next.

This photo pre-dates Mo Nunn suggesting that Bernie Ecclestone buy Champ Car and the IRL by about three decades, but it's still a cool shot. Motorsport Images

Q: In the ’50s, ’60s and before, the garages weren't as secure as they are now. Are there any stories about a mechanic spending the night in a garage, and in the middle of the night going into somebody else's garage and messing with their car? Yeah I know, pretty low but we know that pretty low people are out there, and we're not talking about a Friday night show at Putnamville. Lunch every Friday with Pancho and Kunzman? I promise I won't bother anybody. I promise.

Clutch Cargo

RM: Not to my knowledge, but I didn’t get into Gasoline Alley until 1968. A.J. complained once that somebody sabotaged one of his cars with super glue in the injectors. It wasn’t me. Until this COVID thing settles down we can only have eight people at a table, so we’ve got 12 regulars and maybe this summer when things settle down you can show up and buy everyone some chocolate pie.

Q: I recently obtained a copy of the 1957 Indy 500 program. It listed winners of the previous (1956) season races. It shows a race held in Indianapolis held later in the year following the Syracuse 100 and followed by the Sacramento 100. It showed Jimmy Bryan as the winner after starting 10th and winning in a close finish over Pat O’Conner, Do you know where in Indianapolis this event happened?

Joe Weiss, Spooner, WI

RM: That was the annual Hoosier Hundred, the second-richest race on the schedule, and it took place on the mile dirt at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It was always sold out and eventually made its way onto the Wide World of Sports. In 1956, only 18 cars started and eventual stars like Eddie Sachs, Dick Rathman, Don Branson, Jimmy Reece, Jimmy Davies, Bill Cheesbourg and Ed Elisian missed the show. Think it was competitive?

Q: My question relates to the 1966 Indy 500. While home over the holidays, I played the old Nintendo Wii game "Indianapolis 500 Legends." The game provides trivia about the 1966 race, and said that the reason Jim Clark spun multiple times was because his car was designed for a much more powerful V8 engine, but that the engine was stolen leading up to the race and never recovered. As a result, a smaller engine was installed, but since the chassis was designed for the heavier alternative, the handling and balance was never right. I've tried searching for articles concerning this, but can't seem to find anything on it. Have you heard anything regarding this theory and if it's true?

Kyle W, Houston, TX

RM: I asked one of my pals who worked on Team Lotus and it was news to him. Clark spun twice, but I still think he or Gordon Johncock actually won the race -- not Graham Hill.

Q: Robin, you and I are the same age, both of us dealing with cancer and are passionate about the 500 and IndyCar. And this is what I think: you need to write that book. You need to pay back this sport for the "preposterous" life you’re had, and your loyal fans and supporters. It’s hard work I know, but man, what a cap to a miraculous career it will make. Seriously man, do it!

Jim Fischer, Mentor, Ohio

RM: If Paul Pfanner would just fire me, I could be backed into a corner and have to write a book, but it’s a lot of work and I don’t have much energy with all the chemo I take, so probably not gonna happen. But I appreciate your support.

Q: Last week’s Mailbag had the question; What is the hottest race you raced in your career? You said "Little Springfield, 95 degrees 90 percent humidity." More info please. Assume Little Springfield is near Springfield, IL? How hot was it really? (Like did you slip/slide in your own sweat?) What other racers were there? Your car? Crew? What stage in your (brief) racing career? Pictures please. You came of age in a glorious time of racing lore. Share more of your own experiences along with the great ones. Or at least answer: What was the coldest race you raced in your career?

Bob Hunt, Lodi, WI

RM: Little Springfield was one of the great midget/sprint tracks of all-time -- a high-banked quarter mile a few miles from the Illinois State Fairgrounds. USAC ran there at least three times a year, and I usually made the feature because it suited me and my Chevy II engine. I had a Turner monocoque and the first Gary Stanton midget -- which I managed to flip in its debut. I got to race there from 1975-82. My crew is too big to name. Coldest had to be Corono, Irwindale or Ascot in the fall.

Q: Thank you for your excellent article on your feelings on joining the Motorsports Hall of Fame. If you could have any three Indy 500 entry cars on a 90-day rotation on display in your living room, where you could see one of them every day, what cars might you pick?

Rick, California

RM: Herk’s Novi from 1963, Parnelli’s Calhoun from 1962 and Vuky’s roadster from 1954.

Q: I recently watched Ford vs. Ferrari and I remembered that Ford won four straight Le Mans races after they developed the GT40. A.J. Foyt drove for them in 1967 for one of their wins. Do you know if Mario Andretti ever competed at Le Mans? Has he ever mentioned Le Mans? It is interesting in the never-ending comparison of the careers of the two greatest American racing heroes, Foyt vs Andretti, that one has a Le Mans victory and the other a Formula 1 title.

Bill, Nashville

RM: Mario ran eight times at Le Mans from 1966 to 2000 with a best finish of second in 1995 and third in 1983 co-driving with son Michael. He also co-drove with nephew John and Michael in 1988 and they finished sixth in a Porsche. He loved racing there, one of his earliest memories.

Not only was Mario a repeat visitor to Le Mans, he won the WSC class in 1995 with this Courage C34 that he shared with Bob Wollek and Eric Helary. Motorsport Images

Q: IndyCar and NASCAR have always been on top of my racing list, with a few local Saturday night races mixed in. The last few years have changed to mostly local racing and USAC midgets. Great close racing, huge shows like the Chili Bowl and all kinds of drivers, from Larson to the young kid getting a ride from Keith Kunz, Chad Boat, Tim Clauson or now RMS. What a bunch of talent, simple cars, and a great, fast-paced show. There are more pro racers from both major series looking for seat time in a midget on dirt to hone their driving skills, as well has have fun driving a race car. Indiana midget week filled all the tracks. You could walk into the pits, meet all the drivers, crews and owners. It's like going back in time to the real racers and tracks that kept all the Andrettis, Foyts etc., fed in the old days before big sponsorships.

We are all looking for that link to the past, and it's here right under our noses. I got to watch a full week of live racing on TV from the Chili Bowl for less than the price of one major race ticket. Dirt is where it's at now, get out and enjoy it. You can meet Tony Stewart or Kyle Larson, as well as the next one who is now 16 years old and just as fast. Put on your old jeans, favorite racer's t-shirt, watch great racing and take a shower after the race. Are you still a fan, Miller?

Jack DeVience, Valparaiso, IN

RM: I’ll always be a USAC fan because midgets and sprints are the best racing going, I just don’t get to many races anymore so thankfully there’s FLO. When I raced midgets I would take people to Kokomo or Terre Haute and it was there first time watching a dirt race, and they couldn’t believe how exciting it was and how close everyone ran together.

Q: I read your Mailbag each week and it seems as though the people who write in are a mix of fans lamenting the death of racing and fans excited for what's ahead. I'm a 22-year-old recent college graduate who has fallen head over heels in love with racing (especially IndyCar and IMSA) during this pandemic. I find it to be fascinating -- on par with baseball, which is my first sports love -- and I wish I had found out how great this sport is earlier in life. I went to my first motorsports race ever at the Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio back in September. I dragged my brother along with me and we had a great time watching the race, we were right on the turn that had the three spins. (This was the Sunday race). I just thought I should let you and the rest of the RACER community know that there are still new fans finding out about this incredible and magnificent sport.

From A New Racing Fan.

Matthew Houk, Columbus, Ohio

RM: Thanks Matt, excellent way to end this week’s Mailbag, knowing there is still hope, America, that young people can get hooked on racing.