Q: Just finished watching the terrific Netflix doc about Willy T. Ribbs. I remember watching most of this live back in the day as I was a huge fan of his. Was always wondering why he was always having a string of bad luck w/equipment. Now it’s been revealed: Was set up by some for a fail. He took what offers came his way & hoped for the best. No doubt had the talent. Is it that people were so blind to “color and racism” he could never get a break? Such a shame — born too soon.

James Bishop

RM: He had no chance in NASCAR, that was obvious, but other than a couple of instances in Trans Am Willy T. got a fair shake and made his reputation. He never had anything close to the best IndyCar ride and that was pretty short-sighted of CART at the time. Had Dan Gurney been in CART in the late ’80s I think he would have given Willy a shot.

F1 and Brabham could have had Willy T. Ribbs, after the American’s promising test for the team in December 1985. But they got Stefano Modena instead. Image by LAT archive

Q: I just finished watching “Uppity,” the documentary about Willy T. Ribbs, and I don’t believe he was a problem because you had other arrogant drivers back then like A.J. Foyt, Tony Stewart, and Niki Lauda. I happened to meet Willy T. back in 1991 at the Grand Prix of the Meadowlands in N.J. and what I saw was a charming individual who I believe should have been given a chance with some of the top teams in IndyCar like a Penske, Newman/Haas, Ganassi and Gallas Racing. I watched him in the Trans Am Series back in the ’80s and he should have won the series championship, which is why it’s not hard to believe that behind closed doors somebody within the teams he drove for, wasn’t ready to see a black man win a major auto racing series title.

Unfortunately for Willy T., and other black drivers like Wendell Scott, Benny Scott Joie Ray and Randy Bethea, racing requires money to win, having a family who has a huge bank account or a financial backer who is willing to put the driver in a winning car. As said in your article about Willy T., one wonders had Jim Trueman had stayed alive would Willy have had a shot to be in IndyCar to be Bobby Rahal’s teammate.

Meantime I look at Lewis Hamilton’s incredible journey in becoming by some to be the greatest Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport because he had a father in Anthony Hamilton who in some ways like Serena and Venus Williams’ father, pushed his son to stardom to be the best and was fortunate that Ron Dennis and Mercedes Benz saw Lewis at the age of 12. I highly doubt Lewis would want to race at the Indy 500, which would be great for the IndyCar Series because they could use him to really boost the series.

Alistair, Springfield, MO

RM: Well, Willy had retired by the time Stewart came into prominence but a problem early on was that he was told by Don King to let people know how great he was all the time. I told him that in racing that you had to show people before you could brag and eventually he backed up everything he said but alienated a lot of people before that. Hamilton had the perfect path that few ever get and I think he realizes it. Not sure he wants to try ovals but it would be great to see him at Indy.

Q: Not much of a media follower, but I just wanted to tell you that your article on John Andretti was wonderful.  As I think only really you could do, you captured the essence of the racer and man John was. Always been a big fan of yours.

Doug S.

RM: Thanks Doug. John was just a very good person who was dealt the worst hand but refused to give up or throw any pity party.

Q: How did you feel when you heard that John Andretti passed away from cancer at the age of 56? Were you very sad when Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash at the age of 41 and his daughter was also killed in the same helicopter crash at the age of 13?

Chris Fiegler, Latham, NY

RM: Obviously both were tragedies but with John we knew it was only a matter of time while Kobe’s accident was shocking and took the lives of some young women who didn’t have the chance to blossom. But the saddest part of John’s ordeal was that he was given a clean bill of health and then his cancer returned.

Q: If John Andretti’s death does nothing else it should remind us all to “Get on with it” while we still can. Life is a crapshoot and you squander what time you’ve got at your own peril. With that in mind I plan on doubling my IndyCar intake this year. Portland and Laguna Seca. Any advice on where or how the Laguna event should be consumed? I hope to see you at one or both. 

David, Vancouver, BC

RM: Go to the Festival Curves at Portland and up on the hill by the Corkscrew at Laguna. Have fun and thanks for being a loyal fan.

Q: Just got the email about renewing the NBC Sports Gold IndyCar Pass. Renewal is $54.99 plus tax. I don’t know if there is a deal for new subscribers. It doesn’t say anything about country limitations. Personally, I greatly enjoyed the coverage from IndyCar Pass last year. I would put it on for practice and qualifying on Saturday. The running commentary from everyone was much more relaxed than you find on the actual race broadcast. I found it much more entertaining and enjoyable than the actual race broadcasts. It seems like you and the other race reporters and the guys in the booth are having fun and really enjoy being at the racetrack. Makes me jealous actually. Anyway, would I recommend it to an IndyCar fan? Yes I would. My $.02 and it’s probably worth what you paid for my opinion.

John Balestrieri, Milwaukee

RM: Glad you enjoyed it and it should be kind if a casual conversation among the booth and pit reporters and I think everyone had fun with it (like P.T. and Townsend going into the pits, those were my favorite moments from 2019 because they were good and got some great responses from drivers and engineers).