Q: Rather than ask the typical “why aren’t there more ovals?” question, please allow me to ask this way: If the interest and demand just isn’t there, then why do you have to answer so many questions about it? According to an answer last week, about 10k of them. This after VeeKay winning Indy GP with about a 4-second margin – typical for most non-ovals. I just don’t buy road course popularity, with speeds my own car can reach, follow-the-leader racing, little to no passing, and finishes that are far from photo. No thanks.

Matt Cast

RM: For the sake of argument, let’s say we’ve had 50 letters in three months about a lack of ovals. Wouldn’t it be fun to know how many of those people would be willing to drive to Gateway, or fly to Fort Worth, or vice versa? And does that represent the fans that actually care? You say no passing; did you not watch Saturday’s race at IMS? There was non-stop passing, and I’d venture to say that many road and street races have been much better than any oval except Indy. Dixon led 206 and 163 laps at Texas – did that keep you riveted to the TV? Look, we all know ovals are Indy’s heritage, and nobody loved Phoenix, Milwaukee, Trenton and Michigan more than I did, but somewhere along the way, people quit showing up. You can spin that anyway you want, but it’s a fact.

Q: I read an article in Sports Business Journal that NBC may bail out of IndyCar and sell it to CBS. CBS in turn would stick it on its streaming service. What’s going on here? I thought NBC wanted to be the racing channel. But apparently not. What are you hearing lately? My opinion: IndyCar/R.P. should start his own streaming service, and the hell with the big networks. I’d rather pay for IndyCar directly to IndyCar rather than to some other service that has 99% garbage shows that you have to take to get the 1% you want.

JB

RM: NBC picked up its option this year and I imagine if IndyCar doesn’t ask for more money it would likely want to keep going. I’ve heard FOX and CBS might be interested, but IndyCar would get buried on those networks. To hell with network when you have trouble getting one million viewers? Good luck selling sponsorship with streaming only.

Q: All I have to say to contribute to this week’s Mailbag, Robin, is thank you. Thank you for suggesting that Paul Tracy be an IndyCar broadcaster. The insight he brings, the experience he brings, and the intelligence he brings are second to none. I’m also glad NBC realized he was an asset and kept him on for all the races this year. Just as a case in point, in case anyone doubts me, I believe it was around lap 50 or 60 in the GMR Grand Prix when he pointed out the chunk of rubber that got lodged right in front of Rossi’s aeroscreen. He always seems to notice subtle little things that others don’t, and it really enhances the broadcast. God bless.

Eric, Mequon, WI

RM: Thanks Eric, I need to send him your note and remind him he hasn’t paid his agent in a few years. Love him or hate him, P.T. is authentic and he was a helluva racer, which gives your booth instant credibility. I think we’re all glad NBC changed its mind.

Q: Are the teams thinking about what could happen if the cicadas happen to come out right around race day? We all know what chaos a hot dog wrapper can cause for the cooling system. Or maybe the exhaust fumes will keep them away? I drove through a small swarm yesterday and wished I had a tear-off on my windshield.

Scott Heavin, Indianapolis

RM: I gotta say Scott this, wins question of the week, maybe the year. I guess we’ll just have to hope the aeroscreen does its job.

So a few weeks ago IndyCar had to deal with this thing, and now the cicadas are coming. Boyd/Motorsport Images

Q: Long Beach has always been there for open-wheel racing, even at its worst times. It’s now the season finale which means its stage just got a little bigger. How can IndyCar capitalize on this? Here goes a small suggestion that may help the racing and boost publicity. I propose IndyCar allow full boost to all engines for this year’s Long Beach race weekend. Let the Long Beach season finale be where Honda and Chevy are allowed to take the handcuffs off the monsters they created.

This would not only create longer breaking zones for passing opportunities, it would also showcase some of the better driver’s skills. Imagine the press headlines: “Indy cars to go full power for season finale at Long Beach.” Imagine the hype it would create. It would also be a thank you to fans for being so loyal to IndyCar and the LBGP all these years. Yeah, we might blow an engine up, but the season will be over, and they will have all winter to rebuild it. Fans in Indy get full boost for qualifying; how about a little love for the west coast?

Jonathan from Long Beach

RM: Why would you want to waste full boost on a tight street course? And I don’t think it would sell one extra ticket. Just hope for good weather and a close points race.

Q: Robin, you have raced in the past and you obviously talk to drivers post-race, but tell me – just how frustrating is it for a racer to not complete one or just a few laps in a race? Is it more frustrating to be taken out by another car or if your car just quits?

Janis from Fishers

RM: The absolutely worst thing is being KO’d at the start (ask Conor Daly) when you’ve got a good starting spot and you get knocked off the track. Or blowing up with victory in your grasp. If your car sucks, then having it fail is almost a welcome relief.