Q: Do you foresee the Sisters unloading IndyCar and if not, will they install Cotman as the Competition Director or CEO?

Donald McElvain, Polson, Montana

Tony Cotman would make a great IRL CEO, says Miller. (LAT)

RM: Yes, I could see them shopping for a buyer but I wouldn't think anybody is going to buy something that costs so much money to operate until somebody shows a viable business plan. As for Cotman, it would be the right choice so figure the odds on that.

Q: Noticed a lot of F1 talk on the last mailbag. I don't know if you get a chance to see the races, but Varsha, Hobbs, and Matchett were all making comments to the effect that Formula 1 wants to open up a new track in some oil rich country and get 10,000 people to watch while Silverstone gets 100,000 for a weekend and can't keep a race. Is the Troll (Bernie E) afraid he is going to have to give everything to his wife in the divorce so he is looking for more cash cows or is he and Max just totally nuts with all the fighting going on in F1? I wonder what Peter Windsor is thinking, can I get a sponsor if there is a split or can I keep the sponsors I have? I swear to the racing gods on high you and I could do a better job of running the show; at least we know what fans want and I bet we could find the people to make the deals we need. Sir Frank is right when he says he can't keep up with the budgets of the big boys but a billion dollars later how many wins does Toyota have?

Tom Justice, Waco, TX
"Eagles may soar, but weasels are never sucked into jet engines"

RM: It's insulting to hear the British GP is in jeopardy every year since its the backbone of F1 and I think Max and Bernie need to go away. As for Peter Windsor's team, he said last Sunday on WIND TUNNEL that he'll be naming his investors soon and I think we're all interested to learn their identity. Honda and Toyota couldn't buy success in F1 but budget caps seem like a good idea unless you're Ferrari.

Q: How big were the USAC stock cars back in the 60's and 70's? I know lots of Indy drivers competed and Rusty Wallace got his start there. Was it competition for NASCAR? I think it might have been more minor league racing, sort of like the ARCA stock cars are today.

Steve, Trenton, NJ

RM: The USAC stock car division was awesome in the 1960s when A.J., Parnelli, Herk, McCluskey, the Unsers, Don White and Norm Nelson headlined. It was every bit as prestigious as NASCAR at the time before losing steam in the 1970s. I don't remember Wallace running USAC but maybe he did before it closed the doors.

Q: To all the Marco bashers: I took my grandson to see Marco during an appearance prior to the Iowa Corn Indy 250. Marco was incredibly nice, posed for photos, and signed an autograph. I wish him well and hope he ultimately has the same success that Mario and Michael had.

Trent, West Des Moines

RM: Thanks, it's good to know the kid is starting to lighten up and act like his grandpa.

Q: If there was a merger between IRL (idiots racing league) and Champ Car where are the cars? Both series were fielding 18 cars before and now the best they can do is 20? I'm sorry Tom George has killed Indy style cars, Tony Hulman is flipping over in his grave to see what his grandson-in-law is doing to the Greatest Race. Shame on Penske and his followers to help bring the final blow, maybe someone will bring back CART. Where there was more then one engine and chassis manufacture, I know time are tough but give specs and have at it, like they used to do.

Eric R Hettlinger, Terre Haute, Ind.

RM: I guess it tells us there's not an ocean of car owners like TG said back in the mid-90s and it also shows us how bad the economy has affected IndyCar and how overpriced and costly it is to compete. Get the budgets down to $3-4 million and you might get 28 cars again.

Q: Who will be the next IndyCar series drivers to race in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series? Either in 2010 or beyond?
Chris Fiegler, Latham,NY

RM: I guess that depends on what happens to IndyCar in the next few months. Other than Danica, I can't see any interest from anybody on either side and I think she's staying in open wheel -- provided there is a series.

~Robin

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

Robin Miller became an Indy-car junkie in late 1950s and stooged for his hero, Jim Hurtubise, at the 1968 Indy 500. He went on to work as a vent man and board man on Indy pit crews from 1971-77. Miller bought a Formula Ford from Andy Granatelli in 1972 and raced it in SCCA until 1974 when he purchased a midget from Gary Bettenhausen, competing in the USAC midget series from 1975-82.

Robin flunked out of Ball State College in 1968 and began working at The Indianapolis Star sports department in 1969, covered motorsports there from 1969-2000.

In addition to his broadcast work. Miller's also covered IndyCar racing for Autoweek, Autosport, Car & Driver and On Track magazines over the past 35 years.