Q: I am interested in knowing what types of work drivers do to make ends meet in the off-season and in-season for those who are not paid, or full time. I have heard that some work as driver coaches (who pays for that, teams or drivers?). Hildebrand uses his college degree, how about others? What are some of the most interesting or unusual jobs you can recall drivers, past or present, having when they are not racing?

Tim from Hagerstown, IN

RM: I don’t think a lot of today’s drivers have off-season jobs but in the old days guys would sell cars, drive trucks and work construction. Three-time winner Mauri Rose had a full-time job at Allison’s just a half mile from the IMS gates and he would go to work in May, clock out for lunch so he could go practice, then go back to work and return later in the afternoon for Happy Hour.

Q: My bucket list race this year is the Long Beach GP. Always loved watching these races. I’m a big sports car fan too so I love getting both series together. So what do I need to know? What should I not miss? What can I avoid? I arrive Thursday through Sunday night. Going to go to the Petersen Museum on Thursday. So next bucket list I need to decide between Mid-Ohio or Elkhart Lake. What’s you opinion if I can only do one of these?

Bill Peer, NYC

RM: Long Beach has something on track from early morning to dark, then a concert on Saturday night after the IMSA race. Stay downtown so you can walk and then hit the Queen Mary one night and the 555 Steakhouse. I’d go to Road America this year and Mid-Ohio in 2021.

Q: I know you are old school, Robin, but if Tony Stewart is smart enough to help make a dirt video game, surely Roger Penske will get one going for IndyCar. It’s so important to use video games to relate to kids.

Jeff Loveland

RM: I’m sure R.P. will explore whatever options there are to attract young and older fans alike but, again, give him some time.

Q: There were a lot of stops in between, but Danny Ongais was a bike racer in Hawaii. And when you think about his other stops, and other series he raced in, one of the versatile greats.

John in Aurora

RM: Yeah but he wasn’t an AMA champ like Goldsmith or Leonard or Ward and a lot of guys (Jan Opperman and Swede Savage come to mind) started out on two wheels before changing to four.

Q: I’d like to address the constant bitching and moaning about IndyCar being a “spec” series. For easy reference let’s just start with the series during the Andretti/Kmart days. I think it’s fair to say we all agree that’s the most recent golden age of the series. We had multiple engines and multiple chassis. If I’m not mistaken all the engines (Ford, Chevy, Honda, Toyota, Mercedes) were 2.65-liter V8 turbocharged. If you take all the paint and decals off of the Lola, Reynard, Penske and set them next to each other how many fans would really be able to tell them apart? Yes the short-lived Galmer did have a semi-unique look. I’d guess that most fans are not super-nerd IndyCar fans and they would all look alike to them. I don’t remember seeing anyone wearing a Lola or Reynard T-shirt and cheering for them back in those days.

Do you have to be an IndyCar super-nerd to spot the non-Reynards in this shot from the 1996 CART race at Road America? Image by Michael Levitt/LAT

My point is, most fans would not know the difference between the “spec” we have now and the multiple chassis we had back then. All you have to do it look at IMSA to see why spec is important these days. That’s a series that truly does feature multiple unique cars and every type of engine under the sun. IMSA actively tries to make its series spec racing with BOP. It’s today’s necessary evil to keep manufacturers involved and make it cost effective.

So to the fans, get over it and enjoy the really good show today’s series puts on.

I know, I’m supposed to ask a question So how are you feeling Robin?

Chris, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

RM: I don’t hear too much complaining about spec cars because the racing has been so good the past few years. And you are right that a lot of people couldn’t tell a different chassis or even care but innovation and taking a chance is what helped make practice and qualifying such a big deal at IMS for decades. We loved the uncertainty and new ideas from Mickey, Andy, Smokey, Dan, R.P., etc. and it drew manufacturers and magazines as well as people to compete and come out and see. But those days are gone and today we’ve got really close racing and very few engine failures so it’s a trade-off. I feel fine, thank you.