Will start-up and one-off teams like Greg Beck's have a place in the IRL in 2009 while the economy is still in a downturn, asks JJD from Seattle. (LAT)

Q: As you read these letters from open wheel fans Robin, you must get an overall impression of frustration. This frustration centers not only around the tracks and schedule, the cable network deal, and the engine and chassis deal, but the squandering of open wheel unification itself over the last 12 months. Wouldn't American open wheel racing be best served if guys who are now on the outside like Bobby Rahal, Derrick Walker and Gerry Forsythe get together and do what Roger Penske and Pat Patrick did nearly 30 years ago; write up the plans for a new independent series based on the franchise system. We were told by guys like Tom Sneva that the one leader, top-down hierarchy was the way to go. We see now that the current system is not working and we are yet again looking at this sport on the brink of extinction. On last Sunday's Wind Tunnel, Darrel Waltrip suggested that the franchise system was the way to go for none other than NASCAR, so it must have some merit in today's climate.

Don Davis, Chardon, Ohio

RM: I would agree there needs to be a new set of rules, a new direction and a strong leader because open wheel is regressing at a rapid rate. The original CART franchise system was a very good idea and it kept teams going. Something like this needs to happen (quickly) or we'll be down to six car owners by 2010. It's simple math: there is no money available, the IRL doesn't pay squat and it takes a lot of money to run an Indy car. As for leaders, Walker is the only car owner I'd feel comfortable with but Tony Cotman has to be a decision maker.

Q: I've been taking a look at the bleak future of the IndyCar series. It seems that, despite Danica's best efforts to turn it into a softcore porn on wheels, the series is in a downward slump with little chance of any serious recovery. So let's extrapolate this out a few years. Let's say that Indy racing goes belly up. What becomes of open wheel racing in the US then? Would most drivers disperse out to other big-name, closed-wheel racing series? Could the Atlantic Series grow in time to fill the gap? Or would open wheel racing be confined to local dirt tracks? Obviously Formula 1, even with a US team in place, could care less about the American markets, so any "big time" series taking over is out.
Could NASCAR be stupid enough (or desperate enough), to form a "Nascar Insert Lame Sponsor Here Indy Series"?

Mike Stropkovic, Bolingbrook, Ill.

RM: Let's not blame Danica for taking advantage of her sexiness/marketability but let's take your assumption that Indy car is belly up by 2013. Would somebody like Gerry Forsythe step in and save the day? Would USAC jump in and take the lead with an affordable series that rewards American short-track drivers? Would ALMS make an open-wheel division? Who knows but don't forget that Bill France Jr. "befriended" Tony George and advised him on starting his own series back in the mid-90s. And all those ISC tracks and that fabulous partnership with the IRL. Tell me, how did that work out?

Q: This year will be the same as last year, as far as it having no new teams and no new tracks. Well, I guess some of the old IRL teams will have to relearn Long Beach, since they haven't been there in a while. How about some predictions on who might win this year ? Do you think any team will get lucky, like Newman/Haas/Lanigan did last year, and mess up the Big 3 dominance? Will any of the Big 3 slip down ?

John W, Apple Valley, Calif.

RM: With Milka's millions, I think it could help Graham Rahal's effort but I really don't see anybody challenging the Big 3's dominance. Penske will make Will Power a factor on the ovals and Briscoe is going to challenge Dixon for the title. With so many good drivers out of rides, it's going to be easy pickens for the Big 3.

Q: Where will Will Power wind up if Helio comes back? Would HVM run him in the second car they claim to have? Right now as it stands I count 18 confirmed cars with five more probable but nothings come out for a while. Dale Coyne? Rubicon? Conquest? HVM? Whose in, whose still trying?

Kart Racer Daniel

RM: I imagine Will might get to run a third Penske car at Indy and do some testing but I think HVM is trying to get Ryan Hunter-Reay in its second seat. Buddy Rice is slated for Rubicon, Jamie Camara is testing for Conquest next week and Bruno might still have one of Coyne's rides.

Q: What can you tell us about Emerson Fittipaldi’s role in Helio Castroneves’ IRS problems? I saw a news story a few months ago in the Dallas Morning News that suggested that there was bad blood between Emmo and Helio over some past business dealings; and for that reason Emmo dropped a dime on Helio with the IRS. (I hope it’s not true as I am a long time fan of both these guys.) I haven’t seen anything else about this in the enthusiast press and was curious about your take on it.

Vic Bloede

RM: The rumor from Day 1 has been just that. Because Helio signed with Penske immediately after Greg Moore's death and reportedly didn't bother to include Fittipaldi in the deal (he was Helio's manager at that time), Emmo supposedly wrote him off as a friend. Then, as his revenge, he blew the whistle on HCN to the IRS. Not sure I believe it but maybe it will come out in the trial.

Q: Every business has a break-even point where they are making money above it and loosing money below it. Through Tony George’s rule of the Speedway, has he, in his worst years, been close to the point where he was taking so much of the money he made from the Brickyard 400 and funneling it to Indycar and the Indy 500 that he seriously had to consider selling the Speedway? He must have gotten close and be close because he is not funding teams like he used to. He won’t even invest in Paul Tracy, whose presence would guarantee him success in Canada. As I see it, the only way IndyCar will be successful is if George is no longer in charge and the only way THAT will happen is if he sells the Speedway. I just want to know how close my dream was to coming true. (My dream being Cosworth, Honda, and whoever turbo V8’s in the back of Panoz, Lola, Dallara, and even Penske chassis)

Rob Clifton, Ringwood, NJ

RM: There is a common assumption that TGeorge owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (false) and he could therefore sell it at any time (false). The only way IMS could ever be sold is if Mari Hulman George (Tony's mother) decided to do it and then she still needs approval by the board. She is on record as saying she would never sell IMS because it's for all her grandchildren to run. I do believe the Brickyard help fund the IRL and the US Grand Prix was a financial loser but, between the Indy 500 and NASCAR, IMS still operated at a nice profit. I think a lot of people, myself included, share your dream that somebody else runs open wheel racing.