DTM drivers sent a get well message to Wickens from the Misano paddock. Image by Trienitz/LAT

Q: Do you think Robert Wickens’ crash will influence Fernando Alonso’s decision about racing in IndyCar one way or the other? I know the guy is a racer, but…

Tim Elder

RM: Not at all. Real race drivers don’t think like that. At least, not the ones I know.

Q: One of the smartest most thoughtful drivers I ever met was Justin Wilson. Before he passed away, he came up with a brilliant plan to remove some harm to both drivers and fans. Will we ever see this implemented in my lifetime?

Bob in Chesterfield

RM: I guess you are speaking about putting all the spectators in the infield? No, I can’t imagine that happening in our lifetime, and the cost alone would be staggering.

Q: Sometimes I feel like I’m in the minority in wanting IndyCar to run more ovals. I know every time there’s a scary crash, people like to question: why ovals? And I get it. No one likes to see a driver gets hurt. But to me, ovals are what makes this series great. Right now, the schedule is 70/30 street and road courses to ovals. I really think these cars flourish in oval racing. Getting in the tow, getting three-wide, and the precision it takes to keep that speed up and try and pass is amazing to watch. Would adding more ovals be in the cards for 2019 and beyond?

Laguna Seca is a big win for the series. And having Portland back is awesome as well. But Fontana, Michigan, Homestead, Kansas, Chicago, and Kentucky were always awesome races in the past. What about going after NASCAR territory and getting into places like Charlotte, Atlanta, New Hampshire, Richmond, maybe even Daytona? If IndyCar tries to emulate F1 completely and do all road and street courses, it would take away a cool advantage it has over F1. It’s what makes this the best open-wheel racing in the world. Plus, with F1 trying to add a second USA race, I think the open-wheel market still has room to grow here.

Ryan Klipsch

RM: I think IndyCar will go to any oval that wants it, and that can sustain a crowd and not lose a fortune – which eliminates most of them. I do think Richmond is serious about getting back on the schedule some day, and I’m due to win the lottery so I’ll promote Milwaukee. But if IndyCar could keep six good ones on the calendar out of 20 races, that would be perfect and keep it the most diverse series in the world.

Q: I have always been a huge advocate of superspeedway racing for IndyCars. Unfortunately, my perspective changed this past weekend as I saw one of the best racers in the garage, a likeable personality who is always great with fans, and one of my personal favorite racers, get shot up into a catch fence, get his car shredded to pieces and his life be threatened as well as his racing career – all so they can win a race at Pocono. The reason I say this last part is because I believe these cars need to be on a high speed oval. One high speed oval: Indianapolis. The Indy 500 is worth the risk. It is the race that we all grow up watching and dream of winning. I don’t want to see these cars race at Pocono anymore. I don’t want to see these cars race at Texas Motor Speedway anymore. I don’t even want to see these cars race on an oval that has a four-foot wall and a catch fence that will shred these cars and take the life of any of these drivers. It is simply not worth it.

Let’s put these cars on the streets of St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Detroit, and Toronto. Let’s put these cars on the permanent road courses Barber Motorsports Park, Road America, Mid-Ohio, Laguna Seca, Circuit of the Americas, Portland, and Watkins Glen. Lastly but certainly not least, let’s put these cars on one oval. Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I hope that Pocono is not confirmed for next year. I hope IndyCar says goodbye to a long-lasting relationship with TMS. If this means there is only 14 races next year, that is fine with me. I would rather see my favorite drivers race 14 times a year than have to say goodbye to any more drivers. I would love to hear your take, as well as your opinion and the consensus in the garage are as it pertains to the schedule, ovals, and the risk involved.

Derek, Riverside, CA

RM: I have a much bigger problem that it only paid $30,000 to win Pocono than whether IndyCar should go there anymore. The drivers know the risks and nobody makes them race, but it’s pathetic they take such chances for such a paltry payoff. Ovals are IndyCar’s heritage and the most exciting form of motorsports when everything is working, and cutting back to only Indianapolis robs IndyCar of its identity as well as diversity. I respect your sentiment, but IndyCar racing is safer than it’s ever been, yet when somebody is injured or loses their life it seems to be a shock to people because we’ve been so lucky during the past 20 years.

Q: Most of us agree that the Indy 500 and oval racing is vital to IndyCar racing. But why are we risking the lives of our drivers in front of modest crowds at Pocono and Texas? Especially when the only good racing at a superspeedway is typically artificial, based on horsepower or aero manipulation? Richmond, Loudon and Milwaukee in addition to Gateway and Iowa sounds like an awesome oval schedule. Plus it’s much safer. Let Indy be Indy. We don’t need 230 mph anywhere else.

Justin Einerson, Des Moines

RM: I’d like to see the speeds reduced to 180-190 mph because nobody cares about 200 or 220 or 230 mph – anywhere. I love the fact they were backing off the throttle and using the brakes at Gateway, so maybe if we get back to 900 HP, it will drastically slow the cornering speeds and put the driver even more in control, and even give him a chance to save the car instead of hanging on.