Q: I understand that high sanction fees are keeping IndyCar away from some tracks. Would it be feasible to offer them a slightly lower sanction fee, and then promise them a percentage of the tickets sold? This would give them incentive to promote the race better and sell more tickets. It would benefit the tracks’ and IndyCars’ profits at the same time.

Mark Suska, Mansfield, OH

RM: Lower sanction fees have been used and/or discussed and the promoter gets — and needs — all the gate just to try and break even.

Q: I see lots of notes from people who want to see various NASCAR stars run Indy. Count me in, too. We know however that logistically it would be difficult to realize. I then start thinking about the old IROC series. Any interest in reviving that? Get the best from IndyCar, NASCAR, Sprints, F1, whatever, to run a few races again. Even just one "all-star" race at a time convenient for all series (e.g. Nov.-Jan.) at a warm weather track. Big purse. Network TV.

TC Cumming

RM: Next week’s Race of Champions (Ryan Hunter-Reay is competing) would surely seem to be a winner over here in the winter with the best in North America but I haven’t heard any interest.

Q: Call me a communist, but I’m starting to feel like I’m missing the IRL/Champ Car split. I know they were both dying. As a fan of both series combined, I could watch about 25-28 races a season. More teams, drivers and races to follow. I could watch all Elkhart Lake and Cleveland OR Chicagoland and Michigan style tracks depending upon if I were an exclusive oval or road/street course fan. I guess that I’m looking for a LOT longer schedule maybe? Also, has IZOD reduced their backing of the series? I noticed that some current Indy car logos don’t have the IZOD name on it.

Chad, Bourbon, IN.

RM: Randy Bernard wanted to have 20-21 races by 2013 and a season that began earlier (February) and finished later to keep IndyCar on the map. IZOD seemed to back way off this year and I think 2013 could be the last.

Q: My Christmas wish is that RB makes RuralTV so popular that he can buy the TV rights to IndyCar from NBC Sports and force Belskus and the rest of the IMS Board to fan him with palm fronds and feed him grapes in order to get a time slot for races other than tape-delayed on Tuesdays from 1 AM to 3 AM.

Clint, Chicago

RM: Damn Clint, I like that idea a lot. Or maybe he buys an Indy car and gets to go to the owner’s meetings and have some fun with some of those clowns.

Q: In the many postings I've seen since the whole Randy Bernard fiasco started, I've seen quite a number of people (including some journalists) bash the people who are upset about it as only being interested in "politics," and not interested in the racing. I haven't seen anyone say this (at least not this way): it's *not* just politics. As all of us who experienced the IRL/CART split and Tony George's hideous mismanagement know, a series improperly run ends up in bad shape (and this *does* affect the racing — very much — in a way that's difficult to recover from). Despite the great racing this past season, I would say IndyCar racing is not yet robustly healthy (although, amazingly, under Randy, it looked like it was headed that way). Thus, the emotional upset many of us who care about the series (and who followed same during the TG era) feel...NOT "just politics."

Bill Johnson

RM: A very good IndyCar driver wrote me and wondered why I kept pounding away at IndyCar after Bernard’s assassination and I explained it was THE story of the off-season in addition to being one of the dumbest moves in racing history. Looking the other way was not an option and, unfortunately, politics are front and center once again.

Q: Why has Indy decided not to race here in Phoenix anymore? I was on the safety crew in the 1990s and the place was always packed. Well at least when it was CART. When they split it hurt Indy racing altogether. I have spoken to several people and they would love to see it again. Not only did we lose Indy cars, we lost the Copper World Classic. Not to mention the World of Outlaw sprints when Manzy closed. The rumors I heard Manzy closed is because we lost Indy and Copper Classic. They were instrumental in helping keeping Manzanita alive. I know I moved on to Manzanita Raceway but it is all tied together. Many great Indy divers raced at Manzy. People here would almost kill to get Indy back here. At least give us a couple test races to get a feel of the turnout we will get...

CF

RM: Randy Bernard had been talking with Bryan Sperber about 2014 so I think there’s a chance at returning. Phoenix was packed in 1995 and a ghost town after that so it’s going to take a few years to try and get a crowd back. Ironically, the IRL ruined Phoenix for Indy cars and it ruined the Copper Classic by throwing it into the weekend as a stepchild.

Q: Do you think we'll ever get to see Paul Tracy run his last official Indy car race? Would be nice if he got a ride for Indy this year? I think he's as good as half the field out there at the moment. Any thoughts?

Lou, Pottstown, Pa.

RM: I’ve always said I wish there could have been a proper farewell tour for P.T. but I don’t think he’s real interested in showing up one more time and filling the field at Indy. He was always worth the price of admission and we miss his personality as well.