Q: Regarding the Indy Series and their dismal TV ratings. I thought the internet broadcasts from Champ Car were great and after a couple of races I was hooked and stopped watching TV entirely. I had two windows open, one with the race telecast and a second with live timing and scoring. The commentators were 110% better than the regular TV guys and I could jump between different cameras as I wished. For $19.95 a month I thought it was a great idea. Let’s face it no one is watching the series on TV anyways (I’m one of them) so why not try building up the fan base using every online means possible. Between twitter, You Tube, and iPhone apps the IRL could literally flood their fans and with content and information on a daily basis if not hourly.

Todd, Rochester, NY

Parnelli Jones -- one of the all-time all-rounders. (LAT)

RM: IndyCar does offer free on-line telecasts of the race, qualifying and practice but the real problem with not being on TV is sponsors and media. You have to be on television, preferably national television, to be taken seriously by the media and sponsors want exposure if they're going to spend big bucks. The internet might rule some day, just not yet.

Q: Is there any correlation between the use of Ethanol in the IndyCar series, and the lack of motor oil sponsorship? Valvoline, Mobil 1, Texaco havoline, Quaker state, and STP, seem to be endangered species. Moreover, it seemed that Pennzoil left Panther racing around the same time "pure Ethanol" was implemented.

Darren, Avon, Ind.

RM: Naw, those sponsors were out of Indy car racing long before Ethanol came along and I'm not sure how much longer Ethanol will be around the IndyCar scene.

Q: So Tony George bet the farm on the IRL back in 1996. Now it has been noted that Tony George is selling his Indianapolis estate. Is he planning on funding Vision Racing with the proceeds from the sale next year? Maybe live in an RV at the track like Little Al did for many years? Sounds like Mom and the Sisters not only took away Tony's hammer, they also cut his allowance so much that maybe he can't afford his mortgage nut anymore?

Andrew Miller, San Antonio, TX

RM: We've been hearing for months how Tony lost millions to Bernie Madoff and he's leveraged to the hilt but nobody knows whether he's in financial trouble except his family and probably Jeff Belskus. Obviously, not controlling the checkbook is impacting his racing team and, unless John Menard steps up, Vision Racing could be gone or maybe just run the ovals in 2010. But hopefully Menard's will keep him on the track.

Q: I am trying as usual to think “Outside the Box” in order to save racing as we know it. When I look at the various series, Grand Am, ALMS, and the Indy Car series, I see all barely getting by, with the IRL on life support. The ALMS has the best cars, but will run only nine races next year. The Grand Am series has some really fine wheel to wheel racing, but nobody watches. And the IRL has . . . well the Indy 500. What do you think would happen if The ALMS or Grand Am folded and blended their efforts into the Indy Car series? It seems the ALMS teams would have enough budget and technical knowledge to go Indy Car racing. Here’s another idea; What if the IRL added the Indy Lights to their races on the road courses? The ALMS has different categories on the track at the same time and it keeps things really interesting when the fast LMP 1 cars come up on the GT 2 cars. This would also help Milka as she could race with the Indy Lights guys, and that would make her feel like a real race car driver!

Rick Schneider, Charlotte

RM: CART was actually made up of several CanAm teams after that series folded and it would be great to see Gil de Ferran, Duncan Dayton, the Dysons, etc. come run open wheel but I don't see either sports car series going away just yet. An all skate with Indy cars and Indy Lights on a road course might make for interesting television but Milka would still be last.

Q: I have this recurring vision where The France Family looks at the state of open-wheel racing and the fans' displeasure and has an epiphany -- we take the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle body off the Daytona prototype and turn it into an open-wheel single seater and say to the fans 'here ya go'. You want a mix of loud powerful engines, here's Ford, BMW, Porsche, Pontiac, Lexus. You want a mix of manufacturers? Here's Crawford, Riley, Lola, Coyote. We own the tracks you like and we'll talk to Doctor Don about some others. We'll talk to the Hulman Girls and offer them two races -- one in May around the circle track and another one at another time in the other direction around the road course. If that sound like Formula 5000 reborn, great! That was some of the best racing this country has ever seen and ought to strike fear in -- and maybe light a fire under -- the IRL. To the fabricators, engine suppliers and drivers it should sound like y'all come.

Big Al, Cleawater, Fla.

RM: Your letter is in the same vein as the one above it and, again, to have all those manufacturers and teams would be a dream and certainly help revitalize the Indy 500. And some day, maybe, it could happen if the rules get changed but, right now, it's going to stay status quo. As long as Jim France and NASCAR fund Grand Am, it will be solvent.

Q: Saw some of the footage of AJ as well as others on Wind Tunnel last night. I have looked all over for a source of DVDs to watch as I believe seeing the races from the 50s, 60, and early 70s brings back great memories. Can you recommend anywhere to find them? It would be far more entertaining than watching Pinks,etc!
Jerry Kehoe

RM: Go to www.racingclassics.com and all his videos and books are listed. It's the only way to revisit the glory days.

Q: Please be honest and answer this question...who is the most fan friendly driver that you ever saw...the driver that would never turn down autograph requests and seemed to sincerely enjoy talking with fans...and now the totally opposite question...which driver never signed autographs and if they actually talked to the fans it seemed a huge burden on them.

Ron, Portland, Oregon

RM: Mario Andretti was the best and still is. He stops, poses for pictures, signs anything and truly makes the fans feel appreciated. I'd also put Tom Sneva and Rick Mears in that category. Danny Ongais was aloof most of the time, not real fan friendly unless you were a good looking woman but actually a pretty decent guy when you finally got to know him. He just seemed uncomfortable around people.