Q: I thought that when the Halo was first used in F1, it would never work on Indy cars because of vision problems on banked ovals. The aeroscreen has a Halo under the aeroscreen. So what changed? I’m all for safety and the aeroscreen. God knows, I lived thru the 1960s thru the 1980s, and a part of me died with every driver we lost back then.

Lenny Mishik, Fairview Pk., OH

RM: Endless testing and refining is how they developed what they ended up with, and according to Dixie and Willy P. it was no problem at Indy. IndyCar didn’t jump into this, it took three years and lots of checks and balances and Red Bull Technology’s help before everyone felt comfortable.

Q: I know everyone and their mother has a negative opinion of aeroscreen. But to me, it makes a current IndyCar look a lot, and I mean a lot, like a 1985 or mid-’80s IndyCar. Yes, it’s not a spot match, but the overall profile resembles it closely. Perhaps that point of view will make it more palatable for some. Just my thoughts.

Mark Schneider

RM: I think it looks OK in Speedway trim from the side, but it’s a little beastly head-on and I’m sure everyone will get use to it – just like those funny cars with the engine in the rear.

Q: Regarding IndyCar needing winter exposure, and reaching out to Australia/New Zealand/Japan/Asia…  Have you seen the new S5000 series cars? Big open-wheelers running Coyote V8s making all the right noises. They’re struggling to get that series going, and I’d say a few Indy regulars should be able to run a few of those races and everyone would love it.

Bill Bailey

RM: I imagine if you could get Dixie and Power rides it would certainly help but it takes people interested in pulling it off and, oh yeah, if they agreed to drive, it would take money. I saw Rubens Barrichello drove one, but that’s all I know about it.

Australia’s new S5000 series has cool cars, but is still working to establish a stable grid. Could it be an off-season destination for IndyCar stars? Image by S5000

Q: I’m a lifelong, mostly suffering Bears fan that married for love rather than loyalty into a family full of Packer Backers. We took my father-in-law up to Lambeau for his birthday, and first Packer game against the Raiders this past weekend. As much as I hate to admit it, the place is actually pretty amazing. To avoid crying over how superior the Lambeau experience is to what we have at Soldier Field, I thought sweet thoughts of Indy.

It was actually pretty easy, because there are so many aspects of the Lambeau experience that are just like Indy. We parked in the neighborhood, visited with the various tailgates full of people we didn’t know (but quickly became friends – I wore neutral colors to avoid any issues), and smelled the sweet smell of 10,000 cookouts. For a second I thought I might have been walking up Crawfordsville rather than Lombardi. So here’s my question. If the Hulman-George family ever seriously considers dropping IMS and IndyCar from its portfolio, could we make the Packer model of ownership work? I’d throw in my $250 for a share of IMS tomorrow.

Clint, Chicago

RM: Interesting you should ask, since the hot rumor for the 145th time in the past 10 years is that IMS is being sold to NASCAR/ISC in the next few days. All I know for sure is that Mari Hulman-George was the only person who could sell the Speedway according to the trust, and she always said that it wasn’t for sale and it’s for her grandkids. But that was a long time ago and Mari has passed on, and after Clabber Girl was sold I’m convinced the Hulman-George family doesn’t have much to say about business anymore. Your suggestion is intriguing and I think a lot of people would throw in $250-$1,000 if that opportunity presented itself, but I can’t imagine it.

Q: I don’t understand why this IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader is even gaining traction. How exactly would it gain new fans? Personally I don’t see it being anymore than the modifieds at a local track after sprints are over. Everyone heads for the exits. The only series I would be interested in seeing a doubleheader with IndyCar is IMSA. Otherwise, as soon as the IndyCar race is over, I’ll be heading for the exit.

Coty Roy

RM: Have you seen all the empty seats at ovals? I’d say it’s well worth giving it a try, and maybe if it was the right track you could have a Kyle Busch and Josef Newgarden trade rides in that same weekend. And NBC would promote the hell out of it, so I really don’t see any downside to giving it a shot.

Q: Hey Robin, I still miss your days at the Indy Star, especially the multiple choice quiz columns. Those were the best. A couple of weeks ago a writer brought up the topic of the racing line at IMS and how the cars fade to the inside down the straightaways. One of the theories was the driving style of different drivers they had developed throughout their careers. One of the drivers mentioned was Rick Mears coming up through midgets and sprints. I had never heard that. I thought Rick had an off-road racing background. What was The Rocket’s racing background before he got into Indy cars?

Link, Mooresville, IN

RM: Rick honed his skill in dirt buggies at Ascot Park before becoming big at Baja, and then tested a Formula Vee, then a Super Vee and finally a Formula 5000 car for Bill Simpson, who was so impressed he put him in his Indy car at Ontario in 1976. I think Rick may have driven a midget once or twice or maybe just hot-lapped one at Ascot, but it was his brother, Roger, who ran midgets before conquering off-road.