Q: Hi Robin, love what you do; keep it up! I’ve read comments about drivers not being as brave as in the old days and tracks being boring cookie cutters (most are), so I wanted to make a suggestion. Check out the FIA World Rally Championship. The Arctic Rally was a few weeks ago, and it was incredible watching the cars go through the stages at breakneck speeds, especially the night stages. It was simply an amazing sight. The action was non-stop. Just wanted to know your thoughts on this series.

Bill, Richmond, VA

RM: Well, I watched about 15 minutes and those guys are as crazy as the Isle of Man riders, but it’s breathtaking and a special skill set, for sure. The navigators have to be as brave as the driver, because it’s all about trust.

Q: Who owns the IROC series’ tapes? I mean, first with the 911s then with the IROC Camaros… what a fun series. I would imagine that if they were aired a lot of new fans would enjoy them!

Peter Carey, San Bruno, CA

RM: I imagine they’re property of whatever network aired them at the time.

Q: I could have sworn that I heard that Austin Cindric may or may not have been interested in open-wheelers, but Tim said emphatically that Austin wasn’t going to go that route. If this is true, I find it interesting. His dad runs the best open-wheel team on the planet, and it’s not like Austin was going to have to make a living in stockers or not make a living at all. It’s almost as if Tim didn’t want to see a kid of his in open-wheel. While I’m at it, I don’t have any problem with any driver not wanting to run Indy/Texas/Pocono. People like A.J., Parnelli, Ward and Sachs had to do Indy, or else they didn’t eat. That mindset stuck with Mario, the Unsers, J.R., etc., even though the money got better. I think it comes down to society placing more of a value on human life than it did in the 1920s-’70s. Driver X says “I don’t want to do a Wickens” and the public says “I don’t blame you!” I’d go into this further, but I’m saving it for my novels!

Damon Hynes

RM: Austin started out in smaller open-wheel cars before being moved into sports cars and then stock cars, and I think Tim understands it’s much safer, plus his son has some chops in Xfinity and a bright future ahead of him. BTW, the heroes you mentioned never thought about not racing anywhere because it was their job, and they had supreme confidence in their skills. Rodger Ward didn’t like the banks or Langhorne, so he could pick and choose because he was so good and so successful at Indianapolis.

Choosing a roof over wings seems to be working our pretty well for Cindric so far. Russ LaBounty/Motorsport Images

Q: What drivers, after racing and wrecking at a close finish of the 500, were the best at sportsmanship?

Charles Patterson

RM: Al Unser Jr. applauding Emmo after the 1989 race when he got knocked into the wall going for the win. He was going to give him the finger, but changed his mind and got a lot of good publicity for his sportsmanship.

Q: Hello Robin. One of your questions last week about sponsorship mentioned the Boyles Special Maserati driven by Wilbur Shaw. While fans are waiting for the season to begin, they may be interested in two Dinner with Racers season two episodes on Prime Video. Episode 3, Speedway Empire, is an interesting story about Mike Boyles in the ’30s, which resulted in Wilbur Shaw having back-to-back wins in the 500. For those who remember Dick Simon, Episode 2 has some really interesting stories, some related to racing and some… well… some so out there that it is amazing Dick is still with us. Ryan Eversley and Sean Heckman do a great job bringing unusual stories to the racing fans. Season 1 favorites are Episode 4 — a history of Virginia International Raceway — and Episode 3, The Animated Adventures of Uncle Bobby.

Finally, speaking about Uncle Bobby, last year I was camping Saturday evening at The Ridge Motorsports Park during two days of driving my track car. It was the night before the 2020 Indy 500, and I found The Roast of Bobby Unser… hosted by you! It was the perfect pre-500 activity, and it had me laughing so hard. Well done, and thanks!

Glenn Cirlincione, Renton, WA

RM: The Bobby Unser Roast is a classic just for all the star power, and Ryan and Sean do a great job. Very entertaining way to spend a cold winter.

Q: A year on, IndyCar is still doing sim racing. I don’t get it; what does the series think they’re gaining by doing it? I have respect for people who enjoy it, but it’s not real racing. Why do they treat it so seriously? Last year they even had invocations for it and national anthems being sung. It just seems hokey to me, unless I’m missing something. I know of at least one publicist who hated the qualifying format and having to harvest then send thousands of virtual driver autographs. I may be wrong about it, but I heard a rumor that drivers didn’t like participating or being forced to by IndyCar series brass and told to keep their mouths shut and stick to the party line.

Geoff Roberts, Unionville

RM: It beats me, but I refuse to acknowledge it exists and I’ve never heard one driver talk about how he loves doing it (but I’ve heard a few make fun of it). Obviously, judging by the TV ratings, it does nothing for IndyCar’s profile. And that’s why it’s the last item here.