Q: Boy, what a snoozer. I don't know if it's the cars being too heavy, underpowered with lots of downforce, or the track and it's smooth-flowing nature, but I had to pop a few no-doze pills around Lap 20. What's with these fuel mileage races? I know, the 'knob' is coming back next year, but really...let the guys race. RHR said as much in his post race interview. Double the size of the gas tank. Make it so you need to pit for tires three times but fuel only once. These fuel races are just so boring! If we are gonna play the "who can go the fastest using the least amount of fuel" game, open the rules so competitors can choose the type of fuel they use (gas, diesel, electric, etc) and let them have at it.

Paul, Salem OR

RM: Hearing a driver say they were saving fuel is the single most annoying phrase in all of motorsports but only motorcycles, modifieds, sprint cars and midgets race balls to the wall without worrying about fuel mileage. I don't know the answer but it needs some kind of adjustment.

Q: Went to the Mid-Ohio race and, to me, the cars seem slow, really slow. I just watch some clips from the 1994 race and the cars seemed much faster. I know they were only one or two seconds per lap faster in ’94 but they seemed much faster. Maybe it’s just the sound or the appearance of the cars

Mark Gresock

RM: No, they were clearly quicker because they had 250 more horsepower than today's turds. But hope and help is on the way.

Q: Some positives and negatives from Mid-Ohio. I had been to the race three times before but has been a few years since I visited the track. Positives: Always was and still is a fan friendly track. With a pit pass saw all the drivers up close and personal. A good clean race but no spectacular result. Too bad for Power. Highlight of the trip, meeting and talking to you about the test of the new car today. ( I couldn’t stay to try to sneak in to watch so I have nothing to report, besides that’s your job). Really appreciated the shuttle service driven by volunteers from the local high school wrestling club. Better officiating by TGBB and some pretty good starts. Beekuis in the pits was interesting. Negatives: Mostly the facility has deteriorated and I hope the new owners put some money into it. Like new bathroom and shower facilities and better training of the staff. I had a bunch of questions not having camped there before which could not be answered by any of those in yellow shirts. A map newer than 2008 would be nice too.

Don Roskos, Dallas, PA

RM: It needs restrooms, some more big screens and a straightaway with a braking zone corner which Kim Green and Kevin Savory are seriously looking at doing (maybe in Turn 2).

Q: I don't want to be too long winded, but let me make a point. At Indy Marco started 27 and finished 9th (18 spots). Texas #1, 23 to 13, and TX #2, 27 to 6 (31 spots). At IA he went from 17th to 1 (16 spots). Toronto was 20 to 4 (16 spots). Finally Mid OH was 19 to 7 (12 spots). For all your haters out there, please find me another driver passing more cars on the track. I know AA should be qualifying better and Marco punted a few, but he's not on probation and not crying on Twitter. Whether your readers want to admit it or not, Marco is maturing into a hell of a racer.

Jackson Pell, South Bend, IN

RM: No doubt that Marco is racing better than he ever has and if he could just qualify worth a damn on road courses, it would be even better. Yes, he knocked some people out of the way to get his final result at Toronto and he's benefited from other people's troubles but he's been pretty aggressive and it shows in the results.

Q: What are the chances Simon Pagenaud gets a seat full time for next year? And please tell me Bourdais will race again next year. I don't care w/who, he can develop a car better than anyone in the Series (as evidence by him setting fast lap the last two races in a Dale Coyne car). He's not better than Dan Wheldon on ovals, but overall, I don't see anyone on the outside looking in that's better than Pagenaud. I love the unified series. It gives what CCWS and IRL had no chance of having on their own - depth. It's tough to appease oval guys who hate road courses, or road course fans that don't care for D-shaped 1.5-mile taxi cab ovals, but one thing can't be discounted - the level of the drivers in a unified series is vastly superior to what either series could muster on its own. And, like every other fan, I can't wait for a little manufacturer competition next year, but I'm not convinced that's going to make some huge difference in the TV ratings. Sure it'll help, but the people who are into the equipment competition are likely already watching. And those who just write your mailbox to complain ... screw 'em. If you really dislike American open-wheel racing that much, I have a tip for them - go to a race. Of course, the 500 is amazing b/c of the spectacle of it, but go to any race. Spend $100 and get a pit pass for the weekend, watch the crews take the cars apart into a million pieces after qualifying, chat w/ the mechanics about what they're doing, soak up some of the nervous energy in the paddock, have a beer, if you don't like that, you're not a race fan in the first place so you should stop spending your time complaining all the time.

Scott,Naperville, IL

RM: I think Sam Schmidt is trying to get Pagenaud for a full-time seat and Bourdais might run the whole series with a top shelf ride but he's certainly a racer to the core. I admire his spirit considering where he came from and as Will Power said: "Give Seabass and Pagenaud a good car and they'll be fighting us up front." But you are so right, the wankers have pretty much been eliminated from this field and when you have 20 drivers within seven tenths of second on a 2-plus mile road course, that's competitive.

Q: I’m really tired of “We make ’em, they take ’em." As a fan, I feel betrayed. I buy all the shirts, hats, and collectables, only to have them bolt to sissy fender cars. Danica being the latest, how much more money can there be? She is the only driver with her own personal souvenir trailer, she got a hefty raise with her last contract. Indy cars are making their way back to the forefront of racing, with the new packages coming in 2012, everyone is really excited. I would think this is a great time to be in Indy cars. She has a huge following in open-wheel, explain to me why the move to NASCAR benefits her. Is this the future for any of the other up and comers? No Loyalty, that sucks!! Anybody want to buy some Danica crap?

Mike Kinzler, Joliet, Ill.

RM: It's become real obvious that DP's best shot to run up front is an oval, be it Indy cars or stock cars, and damn near winning Daytona last month really illustrated that good guys are willing to work with her because they know it's good for NASCAR. Will she make more than the $12 million that Forbes reported? Not sure, but she's bought into the illusion they really like her over there and NASCAR has done a good sales job. Plus, IMG makes more if she goes south so that's another bottom line. But I truly think it's more about her running all ovals all the time than it is money.

Q: How come Factory Team are banned from IndyCar (or at least it sure sounds like they are based on the 2012 rules)? I know the current economic climate would not allow for F1 type teams/rules, or if any manufactures would even want a factory IndyCar team, but I for one would like to cheer on a real Team Chevy or Honda Racing Team. Will Power's comment about how fast the Verizon car was after Mid-Ohio got me thinking "It's not a Verizon Car, it's a Honda powered Dallara, Verizon pays to put their logo on the side". I have heard we get less winner's circle product placement speeches from the F1 guys because their specific manufacturers still provide the majority of the funding, it would be nice to see something similar in the US (if the economy would allow or a US Manufacturer had the stoned to try a real works team). If nothing else the IndyCar drivers are a little less product placement whores compared to the taxi cab drivers (could just be the overall lack of sponsors though).

Steve J. Sollon, United States Forces-Iraq J2

RM: It's not that factory teams are banned, it's that we only have a couple of major manufacturers at the moment and I'm sure there will be some benefits for their teams, although nothing like F1. Randy Bernard talked to Ferrari, McLaren, Williams, Renault and if a couple wanted to come over here, the factory war would be on. But I think we'll see Ford before anybody else and that's fine by me.

Q: So TGBB decides to place Tags, RHR and Conway on probation. Is this about as random as it gets? I am beginning to wonder if TGBB attends the race at all or if he just spends race day in the corporate lounges. It’s as though he just watched replays of this seasons races and realized that there have been some indiscretions that need his attention. Whatever it is, it is certainly not consistent.

Joe Walsh, Elk Grove, CA

RM: I have it on good authority that none of that trio remembered to send TGBB a birthday card so he retaliated. Helio bought him a cake.

Q: As possible replacements for TGBB, you mentioned Tony Cotman, Beaux Barfield from ALMS, Wally Dallenbach Jr. and Al Unser Jr. So, to your list, I might add Tommy Kendall, Davey Hamilton, John Andretti, Al Speyer and Scott Goodyear (well, it would get him out of broadcasting...). Your thoughts? Also, some time back, there was a possibility that Humpy Wheeler might get involved in the promotional side of the series. However, that's been very
quiet for a long time. Do you think that is a missed opportunity?

Don Hopings, Corning, NY (currently seconded to Taiwan)

RM: Maybe Kendall but those other guys wouldn't want it and I think they might be too nice for that job. Barfield would be my choice. As for Humpy, after splitting with Bruton Smith he seems to be enjoying life but he's still a helluva promoter if given the right circumstance.

Q: I can't believe the Mailbag is full of people wanting to see officials get involved at every corner. Perhaps we should have police on roundabouts? Let 'em race and they'll sort it out for crying out loud! You want to see someone besides the red cars win? Let the teams have more latitude in strategy and stop the chassis/tire contrivances. Let them run different chassis - bodywork means different cars these days? Bah. The sport is unrecognizable to us guys old enough to remember, what with all of this over-officiating and gimmicks. To expound upon Don's signoff, let's go REAL racing and quit with all of these gimmicks.

Sean Whitcomb

RM: All I can say is that in the '60s and '70s we didn't know who the chief steward was because he seldom got involved. Drivers policed themselves, except at Indy when Harlan Fengler would play god for a month. But you are right; too much officiating is bad for business.