Q: We are getting close to the start of a great season, and it was good to see Foyt grab a primary sponsor for the No. 14 — the car looks awesome. Is this same level of sponsorship ABC had with Foyt? Is ABC doing anything with Foyt this year? Will it run a fourth car at Indy, and if so, who is driver?

Bill Cantwell

RM: I talk to A.J. every week, but I’ve never asked him how much ABC or any other sponsor gives him. I do know it’s a cool company and paint job and somebody new to IndyCar, so that’s all good. I’ve heard J.R. Hildebrand in a fourth car, but don’t know anything about a sponsor.

Q: Sebastien Bourdais and his teammates’ win at the 12 Hours of Sebring was nothing short of remarkable. That Caddy was really beat up, but Seb managed by the skin of his teeth to bring it home for the win. I think the race was won on grit and determination more than anything else — perhaps his best drive ever. Will this win carry over to A.J. Foyt Racing? Will Seb win in IndyCar in the 2021 season?

Jonathan and Cleide Morris, Ventura, CA

RM: Seb is still a badass and will be the best thing to happen to Foyt’s team in a long time. I know from talking to Larry and A.J. that the team has a renewed enthusiasm because Bourdais can make a difference. He’s just like Super Tex: focused with one purpose — to beat your butt. I keep telling A.J. that Seb is either going to win a street race or road course, or both, in 2021 as long as the pit stops are competitive. He assures me they will be.

Q: Any word on Carlin using Conor Daly at Texas and WWTR?

David Sutton

RM: Nothing official, but Conor has given Trevor his best results so we all think he’ll be in the car again.

Q: I had NBC Gold IndyCar package and it would show the schedule for practice and qualifying a week early, which allowed us to plan for it. I now have Peacock Premium, but will it also do the same?

Jerry, Indy

RM: Absolutely. Not sure if it will simply be on the website or you will receive an email, but they want to continue what was started with NBC Gold.

Q: Longtime IndyCar fan, and Mid-Ohio is my home track. I now live in Nashville area and am thrilled the Music City GP is becoming a reality. I know it’s early, but very little attention is being given to race coming so far, but I’ll be damned that NASCAR is back and will race a month earlier than IndyCar. Well, guess what the talk of the town is? We have a great ambassador that would do wonders for the GP, he’s from here, lives here, and is an IndyCar champion: Mr. Josef Newgarden. Do you know if IndyCar or Nashville Convention is going to take advantage of this golden opportunity for Newgarden to shine his light on the upcoming Music City GP? I hope this opportunity does not go by the wayside.

Timothy Swearingen, Nashville, TN

RM: I talked to Josef last week at the IMS test, and he was encouraged that so many people had been stopping him to ask if he was in that race in the streets. They’ve got a group of heavy hitters investing in the Nashville GP, and I think it’s going to get a lot of publicity and be a success. And Josef will be front and center.

Sebring was another solid addition to an already-stacked Bourdais career highlight reel. Michael Levitt/Motorsport Images

Q: I have been going to Indy since 1991, and about five years ago, I started taking my now 10-year-old son (whom you’ve met and thanked for being a fan). We typically make sure we go to qualifying weekend and purchase a Bronze Badge and Jr. Badge for him. With COVID restrictions currently in place, staff at Indy said they are selling them, but were limited on availability as well as the amount of access we would have to the drivers. Can you shed any light on this with regard to driver availability while in the garage area, as well as any other access around the track that may be limited or restricted?

Jason, Chicago, IL

RM: Here’s the latest from IMS president Doug Boles: “No decision has been made at this point as we are waiting to understand what protocols might be in place. We will know by the middle of April. I believe, for the first three races at minimum, IndyCar is limiting paddock and pit access similar to what they implemented in 2020, so we will collaborate with IndyCar as well as the local authorities.”

Q: Do you know if there was ever any discussion about IndyCar testing on the road course at Pocono? It’s such a huge facility with many different configurations with the road course, it’s baffling to me Pocono never seemed to promote road racing for IndyCar or NASCAR. Or I’m I wrong?

Paul G.

RM: I don’t know about promoting the road course, but I don’t ever recall anyone but SCCA racing on it, and IndyCar usually looked to a warmer climate to test in the off-season. Firebird, Sebring and Homestead were preferred, and I don’t think Pocono ever intended to host a major series on the road course. But it did have the World Series of Racing on its shorter oval in 1974.

Q: With Formula 3 and Formula 2 teams starting to become harder to join, therefore making it Formula 1 out of reach for most who don’t have eight-figure budgets to finance the Formula 3 and Formula 2 rides, do you see IndyCar becoming a popular alternative to Formula 1? A whole IndyCar season costs less than what it cost to run one Formula 1 car, much less two.

Matt Marks

RM: I think it already is for some young drivers that have potential but not enough budget for F1 progression, or guys that are out of F1 but still seek open-wheel challenges like Alonso did, or Grosjean. The best reason still comes from our pal, the late, great Justin Wilson, who told me upon his arrival to Champ Car in 2003: “I just want to be on equal footing and have a chance to show my talent and win races.”