Robin Miller’s Mailbag for April 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: Thanks for the great look at the young challengers in IndyCar, the predictions, and your accurate referral to streaming coverage via Peacock. I was amazed at what I see as invalid criticism of IndyCar, Peacock, Penske, and NBC from some Mailbag writers last week. While traveling in an extremely rural area last week, I enjoyed what I felt was very good coverage of the Indy tests. The official IndyCar iOS app is improved, and the Peacock streaming was excellent and uninterrupted while I only had cell data available, far out of range of any WiFi.

With a leaderboard and stats on my phone from the IndyCar app and Peacock video on my tablet, I could really get pretty comprehensive coverage, despite the complications that social distancing brings to news gathering. What a drastic improvement this represents! I suggest that the naysayers and whiners connect up with each other, hire a shared personal assistant, and let that PA present them with a compilation of coverage for each event, served with a tray of Harvey Wallbanger cocktails and snacks. Am I in the minority?

Thanks for your efforts. After enjoying your changing of the guard piece, if you get a trifecta of a) at least 10 winners named; b) any 14 winners or more in the season; and c) the championship going to the Laguna Seca round or Herta or O’Ward crowned the champ, I think we Mailbag readers owe you a heck of a payout.

Rick, CA

RM: Glad to hear you had a good experience with Peacock. I’ve heard everything from no replay of Thursday to the video breaking up to fans not sure what Peacock will offer during the week. Right now I think they’re just trying to slot IndyCar into their program format, and I do think there will be some good content as the season progresses.

Q: It seems obvious at least to me that practicing at Indy in April makes no sense when RP could expand the Month of May by a few days, sell tickets and improve the show. This would also help the Indianapolis economy. I would buy a seat. I know we can't go back to the "good old days" but we can improve the greatest spectacle in racing. Thoughts?

Bill Turley

RM: IndyCar wanted to try a few changes to the Dallara for May and get feedback from the drivers, so it’s the perfect time. And nobody shows up for practice when it’s only a couple days in May, so adding days isn’t going to generate any extra interest or money. Those days are long gone, but we still have the best race in the world.

Q: Castroneves must attend an Indy 500 refresher course once again. Will he teach or be a student? Robin, can you please explain what goes on at a refresher class?

T. Swearingen

RM: He could be both, but IndyCar just likes the driver, even with Helio’s experience, to make some laps and get comfortable with his car and team. The test calls for a set number of laps at progressive speeds.

"Crap, I've completely blanked on which way Turn 3 goes." Michael Levitt/Lumen Digital Agency

Q: Very nice, the way you handled Don C (in last week’s Mailbag), especially after he beat up on our sport. You must have been in a good mood when you replied. Some of the things he mentioned were antiquated rules, ending races under yellow and strung-out restarts. He must not understand that an IndyCar is an open-wheel rocket and not a puffed-up bumper car that other series are using, so a strung-out restart doesn’t matter as much because of the speed the cars have to catch up during the race.

And yes, R.P. is working on every aspect of the racing. IndyCar should continue to end the race under yellow -- when the miles are complete, it’s over. My opinion is that the IndyCar series doesn’t need gimmicks, hand-holding or participation trophies in the form of a green/white/checker to make it a good race. If he is a fan as stated, he should watch the races and be happy with any and all of them. Not all football games are good, but most of us still watch and support our team. Well, that’s one race fan’s opinion. What say you?

Jack, Ft. Myers, FL

RM: I agree with Scott Dixon: Indy isn’t supposed to be easy and it doesn’t need push-to-pass -- my God, look at the finishes of the past decade. And calling the race at its scheduled distance doesn’t bother me in the least, but I guess we’re in the minority of today’s fans. It’s the Indy 500 and don’t tell me how much better the TV ratings would be with green/white/checker, because that’s a load of crap.

Q: OK, you saw it! First minutes, first lap, tire in grass and crash. Remove that idiotic grass, (VeeKay) drops a tire below white line and completes his turn. But of course we want to keep grass so there is nowhere to go in the turns. Another senseless crash that could have been a great deal worse. When will someone take notice and do it for the safety of the drivers and to improve racing at the Speedway? Maybe drivers could try and lead the race again instead of running in second to win race. Tired of hearing about all the lead changes on the front stretch and back straight.

Greg Lupo

RM: Couldn’t agree more, Greg. Put in the old apron and let drivers save their butt or race side-by-side like Rick and Michael. Grass is absolutely ridiculous at an oval. Any oval.

Q: I have a deep love, respect and obsession for IndyCar and the Indy 500, In fact, it's better than Christmas and should be a national holiday. All that being said, here's my complaint. It's all about promotion. Whoever does the promotion for IndyCar sucks. I get they do the countdown the 500 on social media with vintage pictures and videos. But why don't they take the time to promote other races of the year to get some buzz? Everyone knows the 500, and here they are counting down 100 days until the 105th running. That's fine, but other races need promoting too.

Also I understand ovals get very little fan support, but maybe it takes longer than a two- to three-year run at an oval track before they start seeing a turnaround. Word of mouth promotion can be a great thing if they use it right. Just give ovals a better chance. I miss Kansas Kentucky, Milwaukee, etc. Oh, and while I am on the bandwagon, those fans who think that Roger Penske can turn around IndyCar during a pandemic need to keep their mouths shut. Thanks for all you do.

Troy M.

RM: I would like to see a national TV commercial (similar to the one FOX and NASCAR run with that great Kyle Busch ending) to try and introduce America to IndyCar drivers. The latest video from a marketing firm in Chicago is on the right track, but it doesn’t identify any of the drivers and that’s the problem. Scott Dixon poses with six rings and there are a lot of drivers featured, but absolutely no names to put with the face. If nobody knows Dixon, how in the hell do we expect Colton, Pato and Rinus to connect with the general public? NBC does promote other races during the season, but I still think it’s up to IndyCar to take the lead. And I think we all know there wouldn’t be an IndyCar without The Captain.

Q: It seems like half of the questions in the Mailbag are complaints about why the sport is not like it used to be, or suggestions about bringing back this or that from the past in order to fix things. Motorsport is and has always been about innovation. Formula 1 is still massively popular outside the U.S., even when the racing isn’t very good, because people love the idea of seeing the most advanced race cars. It seems to me that if we want to expand the popularity of IndyCar (or any racing series), then we need to be forward-looking, not backwards-looking. We need to be grabbing young fans and not going out of our way to please the old ones. Thoughts?

John B., Little Elm, TX

RM: Agreed, but do we really think young people care about cars or innovation, let alone racing? I don’t think they do, certainly not enough of them who balk at driving a passenger car. There is no doubt that IndyCar lost a lot of luster with car and tech magazines and gearheads when everything went spec, but I don’t see it ever coming back. IndyCar’s assets are its drivers and the good racing, but right now that’s not enough to drive the TV ratings.

Q: It seems like every week there is at least one question regarding the long-term viability of IndyCar. That issue is obviously on the minds of many fans. We deal with a relatively short season, there always seems to be the question of will there be enough races, and of course the matter of attendance. How can the issue of viability and growth be put it to rest? I know we hope Mr. Penske can get it done, but it would be nice if fans knew there was a plan and timetable like most businesses have. As it stands now, there always a question of a race or two that are in doubt. We need assurance of long-term growth and success.

Jim Riddle, Highlands, NC

RM: I think Jay Frye’s five-year plan has worked out quite well and maybe that’s why we’ll have 23-26 cars at every race. I imagine R.P. has a long-range plan for marketing and promoting, but it’s not going to happen overnight. Racing is a volatile business where sponsors and promoters can come and go in a heartbeat, so not sure how you can assure much of anything except year-to-year. And because the rules package is set and teams know what’s coming, at least there is stability in the competition.

Q: Quite a few people who write to the Mailbag complain about gimmicks that the sanctioning bodies like NASCAR use to keep or increase TV viewership. Almost everything broadcast on TV has to be entertaining: when the racing is boring the announcers in the TV booth try to be entertaining, and the pit reporters keep providing you with interesting tidbits so you don’t change channels. If automobile racing, or any other type of programming, didn’t keep your eyes on the TV, it would disappear in a second. The rules for all series are constantly changing to keep the racing close and exciting for TV.

Watching a race on TV not even close to actually going to a race where you can see the cars, hear the sounds and enjoy being outside without the constant information overload that comes from the TV. It can be enjoyable even if it is not close racing. You might say, “That was a great race,” after watching it on TV, but after attending a race you can drive home and say, “Wow, I had a great day.” Agree?

Michael Oliver, Miami Beach, FL

RM: Absolutely. Television does a good job but it can’t replace the sights, smells and sounds of being at the track. It’s what hooked most of us and what IndyCar needs most at some of its venues. But the people that attend Road America, Long Beach, Mid-Ohio and Gateway always talk about the “great experience” of the whole weekend.

Q: Of all the IndyCar liveries that have been released for 2021, which one would be your favorite that you have seen? Mine would have to be Conor Daly’s ECR B2 Stealth Bomber livery. Absolutely stunning.

Eric, Mequon, WI

RM: It’s very cool, but I guess I’m leaning towards A.J.’s throwback paint job on J.R. Hildebrand’s car and Montoya’s tribute to Peter Revson.

It's 1971 all over again. SmallIndyCar

Q: Any bets that A.J. will go retro and chase JR Hildebrand around Gasoline Alley with scissors, threatening to cut JR's hair like A.J. did to the Team Lotus crew in the ’60s?

Dave S.

RM: Naw, J.R. is smart, his hair was tucked in a bun at the test and he was wearing a hat. He teaches at Stanford for a reason. And the long-haired mechanic who got thrown into a barber’s chair on the main straightaway at IMS the morning of Pole Day in 1967 was my pal Eamon “Chalkie” Fullalove -- the wing commander and scourge of Facebook. Most of his hair is gone now.

Q: Will we ever see Carlos Munoz again as a driver in the Indianapolis 500?

Steve Sicklick, West Hartford, CT

RM: I imagine it depends on whether his father wants to fund him again or he can find a sponsor.

Q: Now that Lime Rock is under new ownership, is an IndyCar date there ever a possibility? It is in a great market, now that Pocono has gone away.

Mark Reid

RM: Not unless they lengthen the track and spend a few million on making it suitable and safe for an Indy car and why would they? It’s a great sports car track, that’s its heritage and maybe if P.L. Newman were still alive he’d push for an IndyCar race because he loved the place but I just don’t see it.

Q: If Toronto is a no-go this year where do you think the most logical replacement will be? Are there any hot rumors? Will another track become a doubleheader? Do you think a track in the Northeast will jump in such as Loudon or The Glen or Pocono or even Montreal?

Rick S.

RM: I have no knowledge, but I would assume it would be like last year and maybe Road America or Mid-Ohio or Gateway host a twin bill. Keep it simple, plus no track wants to get a race thrown at them cold turkey with no time to promote.

Q: So is it a given that the Toronto replacement would be a second race at Mid-Ohio on the same weekend? Or is it possible that maybe we could see a race at Watkins Glen again?

Matt Klempa

RM: It’s not a given that Toronto isn’t going to happen, and our pal Norris McDonald of the Toronto Sun recently wrote that promoter Green Savoree has asked the city to let them postpone the July date and try to find another one. Hope it happens, because two years in a row without a race is usually fatal.

Q: Last week you had a letter from someone wondering if IndyCar can do anything to “improve the environment“ or “reduce their carbon footprint.” Not sure about other people, but when I go to a IndyCar race I want to hear engines roar, see flat-out speed and passing, the smell of fuel, and tires smoking when a driver pulls away from his pits. The very last thing I am thinking about is a carbon footprint. As is the case nowdays with millennials, if you tell them that something like tires are "sustainable" they would get giddy and their eyes will glaze over with happiness. I say keep things the way they are and leave carbon footprints to the Prius drivers. Agree?

Don, MI

RM: The day engines don’t growl, tires don’t smoke and drivers don’t control their destiny, I hope to be dead and buried behind Herk’s old muffler shop.

Q: Long-time reader, first-time to write in. I do love the candid opinions you offer, even the ones I don't 100% agree with. I live close to KY Speedway and have enjoyed many races from IndyCar and NASCAR there over the years. A co-worker and friend lives close enough to the speedway that a number of teams and media members use his property to park since it has helped them beat traffic out of the speedway, more so than leaving through the tunnel.

Like many of your readers I would love to see an IndyCar return, but I can tell you that nothing will be racing there for the foreseeable future. The grounds surrounding the track are filled with thousands of semi trailers, most of which have return items inside. It is to the point that local law enforcement work there on their days off to guard the millions of dollars of merchandise. It can still be used for testing and the Rusty Wallace/Mario Andretti drive or ride style events (did one last year), but the entire parking area, media parking, much of the camping etc is full of trucks. Sad news, hopefully one day something will happen, but there isn't much hope for it from this area.

Jamin Tuttle, Bedford, KY

RM: Thanks very much Jamin for that report. I had no idea, but there just hasn’t been much talk about Kentucky lately and maybe now we know why.

Unless parked trucks are your thing, Kentucky Speedway was definitely better back then. Miller/Motorsport Images

Q: Robin, thank you for your column and your articles, and all you’ve done for IndyCar racing over the years. I’ve enjoyed it all going back to your Indy Star days, and have always respected that you say what you think, even when it may be seen as controversial by some.

I have been lucky enough to have made my living out of IndyCar racing for the last 30 or so years, so maybe I have some insight that others don’t, but I am just amazed at some of the letters. One guy wants Indy cars on dirt? Another wants a race tire to last 500 miles for eco reasons? Same questions over and over again? So many bitching about this little thing or that stupid stuff, or sounding the death knell over and over again… it’s sometimes unbelievable.

Are these people for real? You must just shake your head when you read this stuff sometimes. Has to drive you crazy. I, too, wish IndyCar would start the season earlier. I watched NASCAR on dirt and kind of enjoyed it, just something different. I do worry about the long-term future for IndyCar, just because car companies are headed for electric cars. But nothing I do or don’t do is going to change any of it. People need to relax and enjoy and support what we have or watch something else if they don’t like what they see. I hope you keep hanging in for a long time, and get the book written. Keep the Mailbag and the articles coming!

KC

RM: Thanks, between my editor Mark and myself we try to limit or just ban the same questions week after week, and it took me too long to make a stand. I’m blown away with all the people who write 52 weeks a year and truly care about IndyCar but a few of them aren’t too realistic about what we have and the hurdles Roger Penske is facing. Not sure we’d still have a series if it wasn’t for The Captain, and there is more to be thankful for than hand-wringing and bitching. It’s a challenging time for all motorsports -- not just IndyCar.

Q: Over the different eras of IndyCar that you have covered, who were the best qualifiers in your opinion? Perhaps they were not able to transfer it into wins, but drivers that you would put your money on to let it all hang out for a lap or two in order get it into the sho?

Josh from Maine

RM: Rick Mears, Mario, Bobby Unser, Johnny Rutherford, Tom Sneva, Helio and Will Power are the fine-tuners who would always hang it out qualifying, while Bob Harkey, Tom Bigelow, Jerry Sneva, John Mahler and Rich Vogler were always willing to give their car keys and wallet to a crew member and drive off into Turn 1 prepared to make it or break it or…

Q: With all the bright ideas IndyCar has had through the years, what is the one that you thought was a great idea but just didn’t work out? Mine was the aero kits -- loved the idea until I saw them, and then saw all the bits fly off.

Steve C.

RM: The Hawaiian Super Prix. Oh, just kidding. The aero kits seemed like a cool concept and had everyone talking, but the devil was in the details. To be honest I can’t think of many great ideas to come out of USAC, CART or the IRL.

Q: First, an observation and then a question. I started watching the sport in 2006, so I have very little reference for the golden days. I will say that I share your optimism regarding the quality of the product. There are always more than 20 cars showing up to races, the series is competitive with very good drivers from top to bottom (no Marty Roths or Milka Dunos), the cars look and sound great, and the series is owned by a man whom I may or may not have written in for president in 2020. Now to my question (maybe you can farm this out to someone on the technical side). Aside from no wind, what weather conditions are ideal for outright lap times at Indy with the current cars?

Andrew, Falls Church, VA

RM: I’ll take a wild stab and say cool and overcast would be perfect.

Q: This question came to me while watching Peacock coverage of the Indy Open Test. Let me just start by saying what a great job by the NBC crew for broadcasting that. I paid the $5 a month for the service, with the intent more motorsports programming will be shown on Peacock. It’s actually a lot more cost-effective for race fans than buying the different motorsports options on NBC Sports Gold.

Now to my question. I don’t know the official name for it, but when was the last time that space between the outside pit wall and racetrack was used by crew members? I remember back as early as the 2000s there would be a bunch of guys standing there the whole race with pit boards and what-not. If the cars came close or there was a crash they would duck since they are so close to the action. If I remember right, that area is no longer used by the crew members during the race. Any particular reason for this? Safety? Advancements in communication make that area unnecessary? I ask because I feel like standing in that small space right next to the front straight must be an amazing sport for the crew members to see the race from.

Brett B.

RM: I guess it was the mid-2000s but that was a danger zone and disaster was averted in 1986 when there was a crash in pit lane on Carb Day that almost ate a couple of board men. So, yes, it was about safety, but also the driver no longer needed to see the pit board -- he had a radio and all the telemetry he needed on his dashboard.

Q: Assuming by the time this makes it into the next Mailbag, we are five days away from IndyCar racing at Barber. Jimmie Johnson is soon to make his much-anticipated debut, and we are eager to see how he can do. With that said, I wanted to ask about Jimmie's former HMS teammate and co-car owner, and my childhood favorite: Jeff Gordon. Every serious race fan knows that JG grew up aspiring to race in the Indy 500, but just didn’t have it financially to make it to that level, and therefore went the Xfinity Series, and Cup Series routes. We all know how that turned out. Do you ever wish you could turn back time and go back to the late ’80s or early ’90s, and maybe he could've somehow or someway gotten a chance in IndyCar?

Kevin P.

RM: First of all, he and John Bickford didn’t take any money to NASCAR, those people were just smart enough to snatch him up and put him in a car. Hell yes I wish Jeff could have run Indy cars (especially IMS), because he was so good and smooth at Salem and Winchester and he would have been a star. Maybe not as big as he became in NASCAR, and certainly not as rich, but he wanted to be an IndyCar driver -- nobody wanted to give him a shot.

Sometimes, late at night, when the rest of the NASCAR garage was empty, Gordon could be alone with his thoughts. "This is OK," he'd say to himself. "But it's no Cleveland." Motorsport Images

Q: I've been reading in the last couple of Mailbags about pit road speeds in IndyCar but I also remember when NASCAR implemented the speed limit after Bill Elliott's tire changer Mike Rich was fatally injured at Atlanta in 1990. I was watching that race on TV and because Elliott was leading at the time, they were on camera. I saw Rudd coming backwards towards Elliott after locking up his rear brakes and going around. You knew what was going to happen. Rich got pancaked in there. He never knew what hit him. I still get sick just thinking about it.

Was that the impetus for pit speeds in IndyCar? We talk a lot about safety, and us old-timers remember when it wasn't anywhere near what it is today. You and I have discussed this. A lot of IndyCar drivers, past and present, need to give deep thanks to Wally Dallenbach, Sr., and Drs. Trammell and Olvey for their safety innovations that give them a fighting chance to survive a heavy wreck. As a longtime fan, I certainly do. Be well. See you next month!

Jim Mulcare, Westbury, NY

RM: Like we said last week, when Michael and Emmo tangled in pit lane at Long Beach in 1991 I think that’s when CART decided to introduce speed limits that were adjusted for the size of the track/pits. Wally is going into the Motorsport Hall of Fame this September and Olvey and Trammell have been nominated, and everybody making a living today owes those three a debt of gratitude for their pioneering efforts.

Q: I enjoyed the announcement about McLaren reviving the Peter Revson No. 86 and livery for Juan Pablo Montoya’s 2021 IndyCar entry. Have you heard anything from IndyCar leadership about having a special throwback livery event (similar to NASCAR’s Darlington race) where they bring back legacy liveries for the race? It would be cool to see the Johnny Lightning graphics again. Or Olsonite. Or the bright red STP paint job. Sunoco. Marlboro. Even the SugarRipe Prune Special. I’m not exactly sure how you’d make it work and still respect the current sponsors, but maybe NAPA could adopt the Johnny Lightning livery for Alexander Rossi, since both use blue/yellow colors. Perhaps have this promotion for the August Indy road course event? What do you think?

Brad from Powder Springs

RM: Never been discussed to my knowledge, and it would be tricky to do in May unless you used the road race. It’s tough enough to get and keep sponsors, so I don’t know that throwback paint schemes would be real popular except for maybe a few guys my age.

Q: Don’t some drivers just learn how to win the 500? They just know how to drive it for 200 laps. Al Sr. and Wheldon come to mind. I just have a feeling that JPM is going to win this race and he fits in that group!

Dan, Lima, OH

RM: A.J., Rick Mears and Big Al obviously had it figured out, and Dario seemed to have a perfect mentality for 500 miles as well. Montoya didn’t lead until the end in 2015 and that’s always one of the marks of an “Indy” driver.

Q: After I read Max's letter and your response, I take up your challenge. I'll argue against your Mt. Rushmore with my Mt. Everest. As far as major titles go, on Rushmore you have A.J. (seven IndyCar), Mario (one F1, four IndyCar), Gurney (one U.S. sports car), and Parnelli (none) for a total of 13 championships. On Everest I have Hamilton (seven F1), A.J. (seven IndyCar), Olivier Gendebien (five European sports car), Richard Petty (seven NASCAR), and Peter Gregg (six IMSA) for a total of 32 championships. You heavily value diversity and I heavily value championships won. Being diverse does not guarantee winning titles in multiple disciplines any more than winning championships guarantees winning titles in other disciplines.

Also, I don't know if your Mt. Rushmore is intentionally all Americans, but if not, there have been more than a few top-shelf wheelmen from across the pond you know! I don't feel one can compare drivers from different eras. But what you can compare is what drivers did against their contemporaries in any given era. It lessens the impact of track type (dirt/paved) and car type (front/rear engines and aero). Because of that, it is a good driver assessment tool plus you don't have think about Hamilton/Jackie Stewart/Nuvolari or Dixon/Foyt/DePaulo in a make-believe "tradin' paint" session. But in the end, you're right, there's no right or wrong, it's purely subjective. And it's probably best discussed over a few too many beers, sitting in a campground, the night before the Indy 500!

Bill B.

RM: Well, with all due respect to you and the deceased, comparing Peter Gregg and Olivier Gendebien to Parnelli is laughable. He was one of Indy’s greatest, fantastic in sprint cars and midgets, stock cars, sports cars and finally off-road. He won the 1970 Trans-Am title and was a USAC sprint car champion twice when it was the badass series of America. And, yes, my Mt. Rushmore was about American racers and an international one would need about 12 heads. It’s fun to argue about and I appreciate your stance, thanks for writing.

The easiest way to ensure that Gendebien secures his rightful place among the greats is to come up with a Belgian Mt. Rushmore. He and Ickx are walk-up starts; we'll leave it to the Belgian Mailbag to debate the other two. Jenatzy? Boutsen? Theys? Motorsport Images

Q: I wanted to ask you what you know about the new Ozarks International Raceway. Pictures of their progress show up about once a week in my Facebook feed. It would be great to get more IndyCar action here in Missouri (though technically Gateway is in Illinois.) There is very little info about it on the track’s Facebook page or website. Is this on IndyCar’s radar? I can’t imagine someone would build a track without expectations of securing national series? Any insight as to the $$$ behind it or future plans would be appreciated.

Fred, a Hoosier living in St. Louis

RM: No, this is one of those road courses built for doctors, lawyers, sports car junkies and vintage racers. IndyCar has no interest.

Q: What can you tell us about Mark Dismore’s career? After his massive crash at Indy he almost won a couple of years later.

Tom, Michgan

RM: Diz was a helluva racer and a great guy on top of it, and came from his go-karts all the way to Indy and the Rolex (he co-drove to victory for Dan Gurney’s team in 1993). He finally got a decent car in the IRL and won at Texas in 1999. He was one of the best ever in Formula Atlantic car and today owns and operates the very racy go-kart track in New Castle, Indiana.

Q: Is the World of Outlaws still a strong series? How the hell do they race so many crazy nights? Another funny thing was we were driving home from Lebanon Valley and there was Steve Kinser at the car wash on the side of the road washing his car. We turned around and spent 15-20 minutes chatting. Wish we could travel less than two hours to catch some quality dirt racing. Not that NASCAR at Bristol. Suggestions?

Phil Stone

RM: Every time I see a photo of a race it’s packed, so I’d say WoO is doing quite well in these trying times for promoters. They have some good sponsors and run for good purses. Why don’t you come to Indiana for USAC Sprint Week in July? You would be impressed, no wings but lots of great racing.

Q: I was at the Nazareth National Speedway July 13, 1968 when Lloyd Ruby ran his rear engine car. Fastest car on the straights, but couldn’t hold the turns. It was Al Unser’s first win in big cars, first night race for USAC and the longest track (one mile and an eighth) on the schedule before it was turned into pavement. Do you recall the dirt track?

Stu Slifkinm, Murrells Inlet, SC

RM: Yep, I was there the night Mario won in 1969 and then rushed to the hospital for the birth of daughter Barbie. Big Al was a demon on those one-milers and Nazareth was fast and of course that fit Mario’s style.