Q: More an observation than a question. Before the track goes begging for public money, it should try to maximize the private dollars it can make through use of its existing assets. One way would be to rent the track out to private amateur racing organizations for their use on non-race weekends. Every other major track in America does this — Daytona, Laguna Seca, COTA, Mid-Ohio, Road America, etc. — but the Speedway foolishly believes that they would denigrate "the brand" if they allowed amateur racers on the track. The infield road course might be boring to watch, but if IMS would rent the track, it would instantly vault to the top of the list of must-race tracks for every amateur driver in America. I guarantee that Indy wouldn't have an open weekend from March through November. While it wouldn't make the $100 million that the Speedway is looking for, it would provide a shot in the arm, and the surrounding community would benefit from the additional tourism dollars that would flow in all year round, rather than on the four "major" race weekends a year that the track runs now.

Pat Mulry

RM: That’s an interesting suggestion but I just can’t imagine it being very lucrative. Not sure the IMS road course could attract enough business to make it worthwhile.

Q: If IndyCar teams test at Sebring (which they do), if many IndyCar drivers take part in the 24 Hours of Daytona (which they do), and since NASCAR is not the 500-pound ape in the room until the end of February ... then why on earth not put together a race at Sebring? Let it start the IndyCar season there. I know races are indeed a business proposition and race event sponsors are the way to make it go etc. But I cannot believe that with a little work in FLORIDA no less that some sort of promotional package could be acquired in a state that has multiple college bowl games and enough foot traffic to support three NFL teams, NBA team and major college football teams. Such an event could latch onto how Sebring hosted the US Grand Prix in the beginning, certainly the history from all of the 12-hour races, (and the about to become merger of ALMS with the other guys added the 12-hour to the Daytona 24 event again under the same sanctioning body). It would seem to me that Chip, Roger Penske, perhaps even Andretti could find a "third car" and in the first twos case a ride for one of their NASCAR guys (with sponsorship one off deals) and Andretti finding a one-off deal for the likes of a say a certain NASCAR driver from down under. Certainly the first such event would make a media buzz (if pushed media days style) it would seem to me that it could become the open wheel start of the year and as mentioned take place without the NASCAR thunder stealing coverage. I would think that such a show, if put together the right way, would certainly be worth the time, effort, and money that the IRL or IndyCar as sunk into several other failed venues.

Mo Wynn, Greenville SC

RM: Tony Cotman looked into starting the Champ Car season in Sebring back in 2006 but the big track is simply way too rough and would need a major re-paving job. The crowd can’t get much bigger so why would Sebring spend the money? Randy Bernard wanted to open the season BEFORE NASCAR did but couldn’t find a suitable partner for 2013.

Q: Hypothetically speaking, how do you think the IndyCar opener would do on ABC if it was against only Daytona 500 qualifying and an NHL game?

Ray Hando

RM: I think it would do better than every other race except Indianapolis.

Q: Is the long winter over yet? I don’t care what IndyCar does in 2013 and 2014 as long as the winter break isn’t this long again next off-season. I’ve nearly forgotten how awesome the racing was in 2012. I haven’t paid too close attention to everything after they let Randy go. What is the outlook for 2013? Should the racing go on unaffected by his departure or are we going to notice his influence missing in the on track product?
Ryan in West Michigan

RM: The on-track product should be just as entertaining and, hopefully, as competitive as it was a year ago and the doubleheaders should be interesting. I think IndyCar will miss Randy’s outside-the-box thinking (although his Turbo movie will be out in July and that should help IndyCar’s profile) but having six months off is simply unacceptable.

Q: Last year, I read in numerous web articles that people (including Long Beach creator Chris Pook) were exploring the possibility of holding a street race in either Palm Springs or Los Angeles. Any further word on those possibilities? I know of some vintage races held in both Palm Springs and LA within the past 10 years, but the idea of Indy Cars coming would generate lots of excitement.

Mark Smith, Lakewood CA

RM: Tony Cotman and Randy Bernard were approached a couple years ago by a group planning to build a road course outside Palm Springs for an IndyCar race and I believe that project is still alive. There was talk about Pook bringing F1 back to Long Beach but that’s all I heard regarding LA.

Q: What I'd like you to untangle for me is why Roger Penske would kick a proven producer and extremely good spokesman for the sport like Ryan Briscoe to the curb and then seemingly go all out to get A.J. Allmendinger full sponsorship for his vacated seat? I have nothing against the ‘Dinger and believe he's a great racer, but what went wrong with Ryan Briscoe? Eight wins and a good showing like the Indy pole this last year. Were the points he took from Will Power at Sonoma a sticking point? Was he unwilling to pay what Ryan demanded to continue? I suspect you know exactly what happened. I hate to see Briscoe go while some less talented/behaved drivers continue on - but after watching Indy for 50 years, I know that's "how it goes."

Ed Koenig III

RM: I truly don’t know because Briscoe is fast, good with sponsors and great with fans and media – a Penske perfect driver. It looked like RP was more or less funding the third car out of pocket and with no sponsor maybe he thought Ryan had a shot somewhere else so he let him know as early as possible. And there’s no guarantee that A.J. will run more than a couple races.

Q: What the heck is up with no one signing Briscoe? Was he just considered not that good since he was driving a Penske car and maybe expected to win more often? If that's the case, why would RP stick with him for five years? But if that's not the case, then what’s going on? From the TV set he looked talented, personable, and professional. From the paddock, how does this look to you? I mean did he photocopy his butt at the company Christmas party, or what?

Darren, Chicago, Illinois

RM: I don’t think it was performance, I think it was financial and RP wasn’t going to fund the car again. As I’ve said and Marshall has written, I know A.J. Foyt offered him a ride and so did Bobby Rahal (the part-time deal that Mike Conway took) but, for whatever reason, things didn’t work out Briscoe obviously belongs in the series but this looks like is a bad year to be a free agent.

Q: I will first say that I don't have access to the legal or contractual details, so perhaps there's more to the story than has been reported. Given that, is the IndyCar series so desperate for owners and sponsors that it has to put up with the likes of young Mr. Penske and TrueCar? Is there more to the story than what appears to be an astonishingly underhanded move by a bunch of classless buffoons? It puts yet another stain on the whole series.

Alan K, Raleigh, NC

RM: After reading Marshall’s account, it sounds like TrueCar wanted to make a change and now Katherine is preparing to sue. It’s nothing new, racing can be ruthless and Penske is trying to improve his results and bottom line while Legge got the bum’s rush.

Q: What are the odds that Allmendinger's ride with Penske materializes into a full-time after Indy sort of deal? Is there any hope for a 13th full-time Honda for this season? Who's in the running for the 2nd Dale Coyne Racing seat? Do you think Katherine Legge has a chance?

Ryan, Fort Wayne, IN

RM: I’d say no better than 50/50. The full season engine deadline has passed. Sounds like Karthikeyan is back in the frame. At winning her suit or getting a ride? She might be able to land something for Indy.

Q: Beaux Barfield reporting to Brian Barnhart sounds like corporate castration to me. How long do you think Beaux will put up with (it) ? It also smells like the first step toward giving Barfield the Randy treatment. The only optimism the new season seems to offer was put in place before the current regime took control. It appears to me that as long as the family at Dysfunction Junction owns the series we are never going to see open-wheel racing at this level become relevant again.

John, Akron, OH

RM: It’s distressing to say the least but hopefully TGBB will leave Beaux and Will Phillips alone and let them do their jobs. It sounds like it’s going OK so far but, of course, there hasn’t been a race yet. The Hulman & Co. board of directors ousted Bernard and the Hulman-George family no longer has the majority vote so pick your poison.