Q: I heard that flyovers were axed as part of the budget cuts. Do you think we will have a fly over for the Indy 500 this year? I'm no expert, but don't these pilots need a certain amount of logged hours? If they need to practice anyway, can't they just do it over IMS? That would avoid any extra fuel costs if it's just "practice." I'm crossing my fingers we have a fly over, it just won't feel right without it.

Katie, Royersford, PA

RM: I have no idea but Indy tradition to me is Back Home Again in Indiana and the release of the balloons so if there’s no flyover so be it. They had one at the Vegas NASCAR race but Nellis Air Force Base is right next door.

Q: Carl Hungness used to produce an Indy 500 Yearbook. The final edition in 1997 featured a huge likeness of TG on the cover. Was that meant to be a sarcastic shot at TG? Did TG kill the yearbooks or were they just no longer popular?

Scott in Portland

RM: Hungness got permission from Tony Hulman to re-start the tradition of Floyd Clymer in the early ‘70s. He was a tireless supporter of Indy and also started a magazine called Racing Cars that covered USAC as well as IndyCar. The Speedway decided to play hardball with Carl one May and tried to deny him credentials because they weren’t getting their cut of the 5,000 books he sold for $10 apiece. As a side note, those of us who wrote for him did it because we loved racing and not for the money, which there was little of and I think Hungness just about broke even every year. After The Split, Carl (like a lot of people) lost faith and quit publishing what had become a cool part of history.

Q: We all pine for the days of innovation in the 500, but reality has given us what we have (which is great in its own way). I'm wondering if anyone has considered just scheduling a "Speed Trials" event at the Speedway. Same 10 mile average speed as Indy, but literally "run what you brung." Someone could build something in their garage (like still happens in the land speed record circles), and the automakers could make a hybrid or all-electric car that could show-off the performance capability of that technology. Tire makers could experiment too. It would need TV and a sponsor (energy drink?) and a big payday (maybe a big bonus for a track record). I've been to Pole Day and it’s more exciting that one would expect (even with no chance of a TR). Tracking the average every lap with the PA adds drama for the fans. I wouldn't miss a chance to watch insanely powerful cars of various designs go after the track record. The fact that there would be no actual racing (or need to last 500 miles) would eliminate the need for equivalency formulas and the risk of giant speed differences causing wrecks. I do think I would sit on the INSIDE of the track though!

John Zeirke

RM: I imagine if something like that was separate from the Indy 500 yet still run in early May it might have a place. But if you got worldwide interest from manufacturers then maybe it simply becomes the new rules at Indianapolis.

Q: After some thought, I'd be open to a fall Indy Car "festival" on the road course at IMS, but it would have to be a BIG event. Two days (Sat/Sun) of FULL track activity with USF2000, Pro Mazda, Indy Lights, maybe this new Formula E series or maybe bring the Australian V8 cars in. Run it under the lights, use the F1 garages, do something to differentiate it from the 500. Have some practice sessions for each series, skip qualifying and start all the races in points order. Non-stop track action from morning until evening and make the ticket prices reasonable!

John Plachta

RM: I hear you but I still don’t see the merit of tainting Indianapolis with slower cars on a boring road course. Repeat after me: Indy was made by running the oval once a year with the fastest speeds in the world. That’s why it became popular and successful.

Q: I have a great idea for the Indy road course. During the month of May why not have kids in go-karts (de-tuned of course) go around the track at maybe $5 a pop to get those young speed racers a chance to experience Indy? When I was a young one myself I got the chance to go around Lime Rock in a kart and I was hooked. My 10-year-old nephew got the chance up here at SIR and he now charts for my SCCA team! It's a win-win for the families and IMS. Looking forward to meeting you at the 500!

A.J. Stettner, Long Beach, WA

RM: I guess if they keep the road course that’s a possibility but I’ve got a better idea – get the bulldozer and knock it down. No offense, but Lime Rock and IMS are two very different animals. Please say hello in May.

Q: While staring at a half-full (if that) Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, I was wondering what amount of $$$ goes to the tracks from NASCAR's TV deal. It has to be a decent amount, or else we would hear tracks complaining about not turning a profit, much like most tracks worry about making $$ from hosting IndyCar events. Half of the NASCAR races seem to have average (at best) attendance over the last few years, and TV networks have taken the NBC Sports Network and ABC IndyCar approach to having as many tight shots as possible to hide the empty seats. Do the NASCAR tracks make enough dough from the TV deal that mediocre crowds do not hurt the bottom line as much as it does in IndyCar? At one point would NASCAR attendance have to fall to make it a concern to tracks?

Justin, Huntington, IN

RM: I think we need to define “mediocre” crowds. Bristol still had at least 80,000-90,000 people last Sunday and that’s a damn big turnout for anything in this country. But to answer your question, I believe the NASCAR TV money insures that all tracks turn a nice profit.

Q: Looking at the new Austin track and the other new F1 tracks in the Middle East and Asia I wonder what is happening to driver error consequences? All I see at each turn and braking area are vast expanses of weirdly painted asphalt outside the track surfaces. Now I don't want to go back to tree- or ditch-lined tracks of old but, shouldn't there be some negative consequence to running off the course? Even a few hay bales might force the drivers to actually drive the turns.
These Walmart parking lot tracks seem to just encourage sloppy, foolhardy driving.

Jeff Osborn, Orange, Ct

RM: Good point. Safer cars and tracks make Johnny a much braver boy and it was the consequences of the ‘60s and ‘70s that made Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt smart racers who respected their limits and each other. And don’t ever kid yourself – the danger of those old days was part of the lure.

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.