Q: There is a strong rumor that Iowa Speedway will be closed or sold after this season. IndyCar, if it had half a brain, would be smart to buy the track outright or at the very least enter into a partnership with potential investors (past or present) and/or promoters and save the track from disappearing. However, given IndyCar’s hands-off approach to promoting its product and looking out for its own self-interest, the likelihood will be that the track will close. Ultimately NASCAR will make IndyCar a deal to be the fourth tier series behind Cup, Xfinity, and the Truck Series. Eventually, instead of the other way round, IndyCar will be a support series (with maybe held a dozen race appearances) to NASCAR’s big three racing series.

IndyCar drives me mad — since 1964 (and as an IndyCar amateur historian going back since racing started in America) I’ve been a fan of what we term IndyCar racing, and it saddens me greatly to see the end of IndyCar racing coming in my lifetime. Thoughts?

Jest Jake

RM: There was always the rumor that Iowa lost millions of dollars in the past few years, so if it was shut down or sold it would not be a surprise. IndyCar isn’t in the business of owning racetracks, but it most certainly did serve as the ‘co-promoter’ at Watkins Glen, Phoenix and likely Texas this year. And making a deal with Road America, Iowa and Laguna Seca for doubleheaders no doubt cost IndyCar more money, but Roger Penske understands the importance of the series’ diversity. so it’s possible he might buy Iowa Speedway or keep leasing it like he did last weekend.

Q: Think is time to pitch the idea to Mr. Penske or Mr. Miles for a Mexican race next year at Autdromo Hermanos Rodriguez? Pato has been amazing. A lot of people are following him in Mexico, even there is no TV coverage; only live streaming. I guarantee a sold-out event.

Guillermo Calvillo, FL

RM: Sad there’s no TV, but hopefully he’s being covered by newspapers and local stations. I don’t know if it would be an instant sellout, but give Pato a couple years and some wins and it would be, for sure. IndyCar talked to Mexico City a couple years ago about a race, but had no Mexican star to promote. Now they do.

Hands up if you think IndyCar needs to revisit the idea of a race in Mexico. Image by Michael Levitt/Motorsport Images

Q: How awesome does the Arrow McLaren SP team look? When you see those two cars on the track, it looks like an F1 team in IndyCar. This is what IndyCar needs – supercool-looking cars with two young guns driving them. Scott Dixon is great, but my 20-year-old downhill mountain biking racing nephew is not going to care. Arrow McLaren SP will get his attention, not the boring Herta/Capstone car. Love the Iowa doubleheader, the RV section looked packed. Do you think it will be a doubleheader next year? If so, I’m thinking road trip.

Mark, Altadena, CA

RM: Well, it looked especially impressive with Pato leading late at Road America and he and Askew running strong both nights at Iowa. It’s a sharp paint scheme that is easy to identify, but hopefully the young talent behind the wheel will attract new fans like your nephew. No idea about the 2021 schedule yet, just hope Iowa is still around.

Q: There is a rumor that Sergio Perez could be replaced by Sebastian Vettel in 2021. Perez said he had been contacted by at least one F1 team and a couple of teams in other formula. Any idea if any of the other teams are IndyCar teams? Also, if you had to place a bet (I know you occasionally wager) as to who would end up with more career wins, Pato or Colton, who would you take?

Brian Henris, Fort Mill, SC

RM: No idea, but he’s going to have to take a major pay cut if he comes to IndyCar (he’s making $8 million in 2020 with Racing Point) and he’d likely have to bring money. I’d say those two former Indy Lights teammates are evenly matched in terms of racecraft, talent and maturity behind the wheel, so how about they each win 30 races?

Q: About Lenny Mishik’s question about AMSP. For what it’s worth, the two-story AMSP hospitality compound at Road America (where the Chevy display normally is) had huge ‘Arrow McLaren’ letters and very small ‘SP’ after it on the roof. I think Sam and Rick are out after 2020. And no one cheered themselves hoarse more than me after watching Felix stalk then pass Pato out of Turn 5. Nothing against O’Ward or Askew, but if AMSP never win a race it’s just fine with me after ditching Hinch the manner they did. I hold a grudge like I was holding my scanner at RA.

Mike DeQuardo, Waukesha, WI

RM: That was the rumor a year ago that Zak Brown and Arrow were buying out Sam and Rick so it’s certainly a possibility some day, but hard to cheer against those two kids because they had nothing to do with Hinch’s treatment. And like I’ve said before, I think James only has a beef with one person.