Q: Through all of your years covering open wheel racing and the conversations you have had with the legends who raced before you came along, which ride at Indy would you consider to be the most on the edge ever given the circumstances of the time period, track surface, safety etc. Would it be the Novi's of the late forties driven by the Nalon's and Hepburn's, OR the big wing, 1,000 horsepower 1972-73 200 MPH Olsonite Eagles of Bobby Unser OR most recently the Lola-Cosworth of Arie Luyendyk of 1996 lapping close to 240 mph?

Robert, Clermont, Ind.

With the big success of shared IndyCar/ALMS event like Mid-Ohio and Long Beach, would the ALMS do a better job of running the IRL? (LAT)

RM: Watching Jim Hurtubise dirt-track the Travelon Trailer roadster around Indy at 149 mph in 1960 (when the pole speed was 146) is my personal highlight of watching history and the edge of insanity. I'm sure the '20s, '30s, '40s presented their own set of white knuckle jobs and the early '70s had some breathtaking moments. But the non-wing, non-ground effect days had to be the toughest and certainly the most dangerous.

Q: I’ve read a lot from people who think open wheel racing needs a ladder, with 3 or 4 steps and one series on each step, but I'm not sure if that makes sense to me. In football for example, there's a pyramid; thousands of high school teams at the bottom, then 100 some division I college teams in the middle, and 30 some pro teams at the top. Does it really make sense to have only a few dozen drivers at the bottom, middle and top? In Europe, there's many different Formula Renault, Formula Ford etc. national series at the bottom, several F3 series to choose from, and even above that there's a choice between F2, GP2, World Series, etc. I realize the current state of open wheel racing in the US may not support a whole pyramid, but certainly more then three series can be supported in the "ladder" right? And shouldn't the goal be a full pyramid? Let the best drivers rise to the top!

Mike in Virginia

RM: You bring up a good point because there are so many ladder series in the world it's impossible to identify any one as "the last step" either here or Europe. I guess NASCAR has the best pipeline and that's USAC, which is really twisted isn't it?

Q: I saw the interview with Scott Dixon on Versus a while back and was amazed about the syndicate that was formed to raise money to allow him to pursue his racing dreams. I also read the book "Flat Out Flat Broke" by Perry McCarthy detailing his deal-making in trying to get to Formula 1 (a pretty good book). Sam Hornish figured a way to get into low budget teams and did well enough to have someone give him a chance. In my opinion NASCAR has proven that many people don't care what the drivers drive as long as the drivers are Americans. Indycar needs more Americans with charisma. It seems like there are a number of European/South American drivers that buy into the series. Unfortunately this seems to be the way the game is played, but maybe it shows how bad some people want to play. My question is, if it takes money to get into the game, why aren't there more American drivers being creative and doing whatever it takes to gain the money to buy the rides? Or are they out there trying and we just don't know it? Could you shed some light on this?

Mike Long

RM: Justin Wilson also sold shares of himself and that helped him get into F1 but Sam's dad pretty much paid for his early days until he got hired by Panther. There have been a few American drivers that were able to find some shareholders (either Sheldon Kinser or Spike Gehlhausen one year at Indy in the Spirit of Indiana) but for some reason it seems easier for Brazilians and Euros to find money than Americans. I told Paul Tracy he needs to pass the hat in Canada to raise money for a fulltime ride and it might work.

Q: What is the real deadline for announcing the Brazil race? How much HP would a turbocharged Honda engine produce, and how fast could a car go with that engine? Would more HP help the smaller teams compete with Penske and Ganassi? Any chance of a race in Cleveland after 2010? Regarding the Dan Gurney 1978 “White Paper,” what was the process/formula that grew open wheel racing from 1978 to 1995?
Darryl, Honolulu, Hawaii.

RM: I believe Brazil (Rio) will be announced in the next few days. Honda made 900 HP in CART but more HP isn't necessarily going to help or hurt the smaller teams. Mike Lanigan is still working on Cleveland and Houston. I've often said that CART became the biggest, baddest series in the world by the early '90s in spite of the owners but I guess they should get credit for creating a fertile environment and taking races to big cities and resurrecting road racing in this country.

Q: I'm a die hard open wheel fan , but it may be coming to a end. I can't remember not watching CART and since open wheel has come to Edmonton I haven't missed a day of racing. The first year a group of us bought 10 tickets, year two 12 tickets, year three 14 tickets, year four 10 tickets, 2009 race 8 tickets and it was a hard sell. Last years event sucked. There was allot of down time, no racing on the track, three support races for the whole weekend, the weekend was dull. Thank god the weather was hot and the beer was cold. So we'll give it one more chance, please tell someone at the IRL to copy the CART racing of old or they lose eight more fans. Remember I'm a die hard fan and they might lose me and I'm sure I'm not alone.
Brent, Edmonton, AB

RM: I have hammered them for late starting times, not enough support races and hours with no activity and they don't listen to me but maybe they'll listen to ticket buyers and diehards. They better.

Q: Always appreciate your mailbag column, but the whiny rants from former Champ Car fans get a bit tiresome. We all know there are problems with the IRL, but have you looked at the other series lately? F1--a total disaster with crash-gate, Ecclestone's less than benevolent dictatorship, ugly cars, lack of passing making dull races, unhappy drivers, constructors dropping out like flies, etc. NASCAR --noticed the empty seats and discounted admissions? Former Champ Bobby Labonte competing only when fans kick in enough money to make the race? Your biggest name mired in the back of the field? Continual efforts to promote "diversity" and attract new young fans. I think one of the biggest problems in the U.S. is that our young people are all stick-and-ball fans. They just aren't motor-heads anymore. Your average high school student couldn't identify a Honda from a Malibu, and doesn't care. What few are interested in motor sports look at something called "drifting". When I was a kid I couldn't wait to get the Firestone ad showing all the cars and drivers, and then listening on the radio (I guess that means I'm an old guy). What's the answer? I really don't know, but I suppose some type of hybrid engine might appeal to the young folks that have been brainwashed about global warming for the past 10 years. Maybe more rock bands performing pre-race or post-race (or maybe at a "half-time") The one thing I do know is that the long-term future of motor sports in the U.S. isn't good if we can't attract the younger audience--they will be home watching the NFL, soccer, baseball, or perhaps playing their video games. And stop bashing TG -- he may have made mistakes, but he put a lot of money into his vision with little thanks for it.

Jim Rygg, La Grande, OR

RM: You are correct in that the young people don't care about motorsports like we did and that's the key -- getting all those kids into drifting (30,000 at Irwindale) to start watching Indy cars. But it's going to take something drastic and modern and who knows if and when that will ever happen?

Q: Robin this simply has to end. I have been a fan of open wheel racing about as long as you have been reporting it. The gig is up for all those who claimed for years that the IRL was the way to go and their God TG would save us all. Everything about the IRL is so boring from drivers, cars to events. Even ex CART guys and events like Long Beach are just boring and not worth the time. To think that there is no place for the most royal, still competitive guy in the sport and Indy 500 winner, (let us never forget) Paul Tracy is simply over the top. Now all this talk about Busch going to F1 over a current open wheel drivers shows open wheel racing is completely off the map and 100% irrelevant. We must pull down all the statues, posters of their faults perfect TG and start a new. As a long time fan, you can’t put a band aid on the IRL disease and expect the true fans will return. End the IRL and use the old CAMP cars with turbo engines as a starting point. We must rise from the ashes , let s name it, American Grand Pix Racing (AGPR) and lets start over. Let there be NO words like Indy Car, IRL, anything that would, could cause vomiting as shear boredom. One man destroyed open wheel racing but working together we can rebuild it and rise like the Phoenix, and maybe race there again.

Richard Van Dyke

RM: The best rant of the week.

Q: Once again I read a bunch of crap people write to you about the IRL. Agreed its on tough times right now. I guess my reply to most is go away if they don’t like it. Find something else to watch. The hard facts are NASCAR is like Walmart moving into small town, USA . After a period of time all the local businesses close. That is what is happening. Look around you folks! Go to Nascar races. My son just went to the Atlanta race on Labor Day. It went like this Fans showed up to see what STARS were on display for a couple hours before the race. Race started very boring. The crowd drank beer ,a few would stand up and cheer when Dale Jr. would speed by. When there was a wreck every stood up and cheered. This seems to be what folks want. 90% of the Nascar drivers could only hope to do what A. J.,Cale, Allison Brothers, Unser brothers (even little Al in his prime),and a few others could do. Maybe it is getting to a point where I should give up on racing after 50 years, I don’t know. I was at Homestead. I saw a different race. I saw 2 DRIVERS lying on the line to win baby win. The places they were putting those race cars on the track were very on the edge. They didn’t win because of Dario’s fuel race. A smart call. I didn’t like it but some of these people that were complaining about the IRL said they would watch F1 from now on. Again they must watch a different F1 race than I do because they usually are about who has the best pit stop plans. They all will cry there last cry when Indy is sold to the Frances. I will make you a pledge right now. The day the INDY 500 starts Crap cars is the day I never set foot in the Speedway again after 50 years of going. You did hit one nail on the head. How is Hendricks domination any different from what is happening in IRL! Just wanted to get my vent in.

Bob “The Old Man” Lauman, Lawrenceville, Ga.

RM: A close second in the rant category.

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, SPEED, FOX, or NewsCorp.

Robin Miller became an Indy-car junkie in late 1950s and stooged for his hero, Jim Hurtubise, at the 1968 Indy 500. He went on to work as a vent man and board man on Indy pit crews from 1971-77. Miller bought a Formula Ford from Andy Granatelli in 1972 and raced it in SCCA until 1974 when he purchased a midget from Gary Bettenhausen, competing in the USAC midget series from 1975-82.

Robin flunked out of Ball State College in 1968 and began working at The Indianapolis Star sports department in 1969, covered motorsports there from 1969-2000.

In addition to his broadcast work. Miller's also covered IndyCar racing for Autoweek, Autosport, Car & Driver and On Track magazines over the past 35 years.