Q: I always read about how fringe IndyCar guys will just go to sports cars if they can’t land a ride in the series. My question is, why is that always the case as a back-up plan? I’ve never watched a sports car race, but is the talent level is lower there? Or that it takes more talent to drive an IndyCar so our guys can easily transition? Is it a money thing in that talented drivers that don’t have enough money for IndyCar seats can get a cheaper ride in sports cars? Is it just that there are so many more series and options for seats that they always need more drivers? Curious about your thoughts. As always, thanks for taking the time!

Mike R., Bloomington, IN

RM: Your last question nailed it. There are a lot more seats in sports cars and most times guys don’t have to bring money – just their helmet. It was the best option for Ryan Briscoe after Penske, while good open-wheelers like Joey Hand, Jonathan Bomarito, Ryan Dalziel and Dane Cameron found a home because IndyCar was a dead end. And it’s a great place to go after open-wheel, as Christian Fittipaldi, Scott Pruett and Jan Magnussen proved.

Q: Just doing some pondering regarding IndyCar testing limits. Why not allocate test days to teams based on performance over the previous season? Kinda like stick and ball drafts – the worst-performing teams get first dibs on new talent, why not give a team like Foyt three-to-five more days of testing than Penske (if they so choose to spend the money)?

Andy Rolfe, Brighton, MI

RM: Not a bad idea, but testing costs money and most of those smaller teams might not be able to take advantage of the extra days. But with testing greatly reduced, I like your suggestion to try and close the gap.

Q: What’s the plan for the young teams in IndyCar? Carlin has already gone on record warning it could leave if the big teams take up too much of the grid, but they seem set for next year at least. What about Shank? If memory serves they should be partnering with Andretti for this year. Is that a full-season deal, or part-time like last year? If its part time I at least hope it’s more races, since Harvey was fast. What about DragonSpeed? They disappeared at the end of the year and no one said a damn thing. I think I remember reading they’d be back next year, but on what schedule?

Also, will Ben Hanley still be driving? Seemed pretty quick from the short glimpses we got of him. Finally, what about the ultimate feel-good-underdog-story that evaporated in about two seconds, Juncos? I love them, and I love Kyle Kaiser. Got to talk with him at Indy after he went on Off Track with Hinch and Rossi, and he’s just the coolest and nicest guy. I really hope Juncos is keeping him on board and getting the budget to do more than two races, because both the team and Kaiser deserve more than that.

Max Camposano, Bethlehem, PA

RM: I hear what Trevor is saying, but how do you legislate numbers? IndyCar is fortunate to have 22-24 cars at every race considering the lame payout and how expensive it is, so would it be good business to tell the Big 3 they can only field two cars? I think not. I mean I know it’s tough for Carlin, Foyt and ECR to keep up, but it’s also not like it’s a two or three second difference – we’re talking tenths of seconds. And big budgets have always ruled in major motorsports, but IndyCar affords the opportunity to be competitive and sneak in a win or two if things go right, like they have for RLL, Coyne and ECR in the past. No official word on Mike Shank’s plans, but we’re all hoping he’s back with Andretti. DragonSpeed is working on 2020 and so is Ricardo Juncos, but it takes big money and he’s looking, along with Kaiser.

He’s a good guy, he was part of the ultimate feelgood story of this year’s month of May, and he wears green shades. No wonder reader Max is a Kaiser fan. Image by IndyCar

Q: With A.J. and Richard Petty’s teams both sliding into irrelevance, is it possible that racing teams built around a single legendary figure are destined to fade into the sunset along with the boss? No fair using Penske as a counter-example. Everyone knows that he replaced himself with a computer replica back when that still meant transistors soldered to a board.

Robert M.

RM: It is telling that both of these legends have struggled mightily to succeed since they quit driving but they both remain iconic figures that are as popular as any of today’s stars. Are both too set in their ways to change with the times? Don’t pay top dollar like the big boys? Can’t attract the best drivers, engineers and mechanics? I don’t know, I suppose it could be a little bit of everything, but I don’t see anyone on the horizon to take their place, and I think both series need these treasures.

Q: I just read your article about the Foyt team. It just got me thinking how unlucky IndyCar is with getting that amazing legacy/name recognition story. NASCAR had Dale Jr. to carry on the Earnhardt name, and Chase Elliott is a solid driver. NHRA has the Force girls successfully carrying on the tradition. David Gravel has had a solid year for Jason Johnson racing. All of these other series connect the past to the present. Then, we have IndyCar. It would be easy for a casual fan, or a fan that the series lost to The Split, to follow the names Andretti, Foyt, Unser, Rahal. The series really needs Marco and Graham to do well as individuals and Foyt’s team to at least be on the radar. But it’s IndyCar. In my eyes it’s the most pure form of racing on the planet. Nothing artificial can be done for any of them. They need to get it together on their own. Random thought/rant for you.

Jeff Loveland

RM: Bobby Rahal and Michael Andretti kept their legacies going as car owners and A.J. always made noise in May, but I’ve preached for a decade that the best thing for IndyCar would be Graham and Marco fighting for the title. Their names would get IndyCar the kind of exposure that Dixie can’t, despite his prowess. Chase Elliott already seems to be the crowd favorite and Junior stays in play on NBC, so NASCAR maintains its name recognition. Mario remains as visible as any IndyCar driver but we need his grandson to start winning, and I’m not sure that’s ever going to happen.