Q: Just popped onto SPEED.com this morning. Checked out the Formula 1 page, with the new Caterham in side profile with that funny step in the nose. And the front of the nose sits way off the ground with the front spoiler dangling way down. Then I clicked on the INDYCAR page and there’s last year’s Dallara, with the nose where it belongs. Then I re-watched the Sebring video. Now there’s a proper car! It’s got some nice flowing lines, the side pods over the wheel, the cockpit surround, the front spoilers attach to the side of the nose instead of some bizarre fu-manchu set-up. Detractors be damned! The new Indy car is MUCH better looking than this year’s F1 cars.

Curt Larson

RM: I would have to agree Curt, take us back to the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Q: I just read an article on SPEED.com about Rubens Barrichello possibly coming to Indy car. At the end of the article it quotes Emerson Fittipaldi saying "Today, Indy is different to when I drove — the risk is higher." Is he nuts? How many drivers in the 1992 Indy 500 when he was driving ended the race in the hospital? Does he believe hitting a concrete wall like when he drove is less risk than hitting the SAFER barrier? I have to admit I've not been a Fittipaldi fan ever since he ran Little Al off the track and then stuck his finger in the Speedway's eye by drinking orange juice in victory lane but why would he say such a silly thing? I think he's been drinking tainted orange juice.

Mike Coppell, TX

RM: I have no idea but that’s crazy. The crash that ended his career at Michigan would have likely been much tamer with a safer barrier and today’s cars are much safer than those in the ‘90s. I love Emmo but don’t forget he did fall out of the sky a few years ago and landed in a pond.

Q: I am a lifelong Indy fan who grew up in the Nazareth area and really miss that race. It was a great race until about '98 when it became follow the leader. I know you addressed Pocono in 2.1 but I think a race there, if everything was done in one day, would do well. There are still a lot of old Indy fans in the area and being close to NYC it could draw well if promoted right. Also do think INDYCAR will go back to The Glen? That was a great place for them to race but was not promoted well enough when they were there.

Brett, Stroudsburg, PA

RM: I think Pocono is a lost cause for open wheel but INDYCAR does need to go back to Watkins Glen because it’s a great road course and the crowds were decent. Just need a good date.

Q: At one time we had rear-engine sprint cars and midgets. There were also rear-engine sprint cars that USAC outlawed. Then some owners built roadster sprint cars that USAC promptly outlawed. So it seems to me that the main reason that USAC heroes don't get to Indy, is poor decisions made by USAC.

Chuck

RM: When USAC took the dirt tracks off the Championship Trail in 1971, it doomed every midget and sprint driver for eternity. At least in terms of getting hired to run the Indy 500 and being a full-time Indy car driver. Then USAC banned the rear-engine sprinter, which was another nail in the coffin. That’s why USAC has always been a 4-letter word.

Q: I was always a fan who loved seeing the wheel to wheel racing lap after lap on the mile and half ovals. Over the last couple months I’ve come to realize the danger and understand the consequences of it. While I may on some level miss it, I applaud the IZOD INDYCAR series for working to reduce the pack racing and make it safer. Having said that, why am I reading an article about NASCAR wanting to reduce tandem drafting and increase pack racing? Are these the same people that said Indy car should stop racing ovals because the pack racing is too dangerous?

David Campbell, Beech Grove

RM: Look, some of the most exciting races ever were at Michigan or Ontario or Fontana or Texas World Speedway but they weren’t staged with high-downforce, low-horsepower cars that forced drivers to run wide open in packs. If the cars get some separation and the drivers don’t interlock wheels and drive like idiots, there’s no reason that Texas and Fontana can’t stay around. And a stock car is much different for pack racing – no exposed wheels and rubbing and bumping isn’t met with disaster like an Indy car.

Q: I picked up a Hot Wheels 2011 Oval Indy car die cast this weekend at my local Target. Kudos to IZOD for being the first title sponsor that cares about the product with their name and attempting to market INDYCAR to kids (without saying IRL). Kudos to Mattel for putting the IZOD INDYCAR logo on the toy as part of their 2012 Hot Wheels collection. And, to kids out there, the 2011 Indy car goes through the loops and turns faster than the other Hot Wheels cars I tested.

Brian Nault

RM: That’s cool, I know the drivers have been doing Hot Wheels promos on the big screen at certain tracks. Glad Mattel, IZOD and Target are in synch.

Q: I continue to hear fan inquiries about an Indy car race on the IMS road course. However, I really haven't heard a substantial reason why it wouldn't work. It is a World Class venue with Grand Am and MOTO GP races this year so why not a doubleheader weekend with Grand Am or ALMS? Is there a fear it would detract from the Indy 500? Please elaborate on why not for those of us who think it is a great opportunity.

Jim Duszynski, Colorado Springs, CO

RM: My stance is simple. Indy cars made their mark at the Indy 500 and that’s where they belong – once a year on the oval. The IMS road course blows and if F1 cars looked slow imagine what an Indy car would look like. The Indy 500 is returning to its Race Day glory attendance wise so let’s not ruin the momentum with a road race that might draw 25,000.

Q: What did Paul Page ever do to get banished to covering drag racing and snowmobile races at the Winter X Games? While the crew at NBC Sports Channel has become quite decent -- your participation included -- the team on the ABC telecasts leave much to be desired. The color announcers aren't bad, but the anchor... ugh. Time for an announcer who shall remain nameless to "step aside" and bring back Paul Page! There's no one with the whole package like Paul... passion for the sport, voice and knowledge!! To succeed as an entire product, the series must fire on all cylinders with the boost turned all the way up (hooray for the return of the turbo this season)... that includes some passion and excitement behind the microphone.

Alan E

RM: There was always a story that he had pissed off the Hulman/George family during the early years of the IRL/CART war (I know that feeling) and they vowed he’d never be back. But I know he would be welcome back with open (wheel) arms by just about everybody I talk to or hear from. But maybe it’s ABC’s call.

Q: Maybe calling this a conspiracy theory is a bit exaggerated, but I got to thinking about the hub bub that Donald Trump got from dropping out last minute of driving the pace car in last year's 500. Now Michael Andretti is on Celebrity Apprentice. Any way this is Donald's way of giving INDYCAR some pub on national TV - a mea culpa of sorts?

Brian

RM: I imagine it could be but I wish it was Marco instead of Michael because INDYCAR needs all the national exposure it can get for its current drivers.

Q: Will Bourdais compete at the Mile in Wisconsin or in the 24 Hours of Le Mans? They are on the same weekend. What has been the biggest change to the 2012 Firestone tires? Does Randy Bernard think there are too many street circuits? I'd like two more big ovals and at least three more street circuits in place of St. Pete, Edmonton, Baltimore, and Brazil.

Rick in Oregon

RM: SeaBass is headed to Le Mans with a new team after Peugeot dropped out.

Q: I grew up watching Super Modified at Oswego N.Y. & we all went nuts when Freddy Graves built a rear engine Indy car for use in Supers, early 70's era. That's when the sport saw the sleek "wedge shape" body designs and guys like Rutherford, Andretti & Unser became household names. It was those simple rear engine wedge shapes (which eventually got the front wing added) that help make race cars look cool, and IMO gave open wheel racing its biggest surge in popularity. Simple, sleek and went 200 mph standing still. That body style to this day is what most kids would draw if given a box of crayons and were asked to make a race car. I had the luxury of seeing Formula race at Watkins Glen and saw the 6 wheel Tyrrell race. Now THAT was cool looking. Wasn't worth a damn, but it could have won a championship if style points counted. The point to all this is, what race cars "should" look like, what works, and how in 2012 Indy Car and F1 we see some computer designed, wind tunnel tweaked, multi-winged monstrosity thing called a race car. Hell they are so far out of control in design, a space for a number or sponsors' logo is last thing considered! I'll bet 90% of the people reading the Mailbag (by the way RM) had an STP sticker somewhere! And if you took a poll, I'd also bet most everybody would say the 1970's body style was the coolest design and best racing we've ever seen! Open wheel racing lost part of its identity AND competitiveness when all these little tweaks and tricks were brought in. I say, go back to a basic wedge shape with integrated front & rear wings. I'm sure the drivers in all open wheel series would love it, and we the fans would have a reason to get excited again about racing! It's pretty sad when I see a headline that a former driver, now team owner has to get a race secured on a schedule being made the same year of the race! Last part of rant, the sound of the new cars suck. High winding, turbo popping bee hive screaming, horsepower at 200 mph rocks. F1 at least still has that going for them.

Jim Thomas

RM: A voice from Oswego in the spirit of Bentley Warren.

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

Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.