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Saturday, December 8 Updated: December 9, 2:40 PM ET  Robin Miller answers user mail ESPN.com Check out what questions RPM.ESPN.com users had for Robin Miller -- and Robin's answers.
I really enjoy your comments on RPM2Night and I think you have been one of the most honest voice's around about what's going on with CART. With Penske's move official and Ganassi and Barry Green talking about following him to the IRL, is there any chance that they will use their influence to get a few road course put on the IRL schedule? Maybe pickup a few of the more successful CART races? Rich Blanton Redwood City, Calif. Robin Miller: RICH: We can only hope that in a year or two the IRL is running the ovals, CART the street and road courses and both are in the same series. It's going to take CART getting off the public market and some common sense but I think Chris Pook could pull it off. Thanks for the kind words. Let's pretend that CART is no more (I realize this isn't a large stretch of the imagination). Penske has already made a move, as has Nunn and to a lesser extent Ganassi, Rahal, and Green. If there is no longer a CART circuit to run, which of the remaining current CART teams move to the IRL, find greener pastures elsewhere, or simply close up shop? Scott Kruger Herrin. Ill. Robin Miller: SCOTT: Please see my answer above but remember, sponsors have always dictated to teams and this situation is no different. KOOL, Target, Miller and Marlboro all want races in the USA (exclusively) and that's something CART doesn't offer at the moment. But CART still has FedEx, $140 million in the bank and 14 damn good venues. It simply needs leadership and to spend its money on helping out a couple of teams.
I would think that writing strong opinions and telling the truth may cause many folks in the sport to not want to talk with you. How do you maintain your obviously great contacts without alienating the people you write about? (T. George excluded). Arthur Blake Sligo, Kent. Robin Miller: ARTHUR: Well, you hope that having 33 years of experience and a real passion for open wheel racing counts for something and I think most of the owners, drivers, mechanics, promoters, etc ... recognize that I truly care about this sport and not many people in the mainstream media can say that.
In one of your recent articles, you wrote: " ... they've made Tony George look like a rocket scientist compared to their disjointed plan and lack of common sense." And in the same article: "Today, it's in jeopardy. Not because of Heitzler, but because the owners couldn't focus on getting a competent technical chief, a sensible engine plan, a workable business format or people with passion and racing smarts to run the show." Aren't all of the things that you said CART doesn't have, i.e. a competent technical chief, a sensible engine plan, a workable business plan, and people with passion and racing smarts, things that the IRL has thanks to Tony George? Maybe he is a rocket scientist. Or at least smart enough to keep open wheel racing alive. Derryl Craddock Indianapolis Robin Miller: DERRYL: Let's not get carried away. Tony George screwed up the Indy 500 and open wheel racing in general in 1996 and it's done irreparable damage. In 1995, CART races were all well attended and the TV ratings were solid 3s and a few 4s. He's confused and angered a lot of people in order to try and bury CART and, instead, he's helped cripple open wheel racing. But no more so than CART the past couple years. But George did get a plan and stick with it, which is more than can be said for CART.
I have always liked the way you have been able to needle A.J. Foyt. Would be able to provide any insight on who will replace Hornaday in the 14 car in 2002? Mike Trainer Columbus,Ohio Robin Miller: MIKE: I've always gotten along with Foyt (except for our little feud in 1981) and as crazy as he can be, I respect him as one of the drivers that hooked me on racing back in the early 60s. We enjoy giving each other a hard time and he's one of the few people in motorsports today that truly says what he thinks -- always. I told him to hire Jason Leffler but it's too late. I have no idea. Maybe Dave Marcis, he'd run for 30 percent and ask for no money up front.
I feel that your article regarding Penske's decision to leave CART is correct. The only thing that puzzles me about his decision is a comment he made earlier in the year about the IRL's rules not suiting him because they didn't allow enough flexibly for design changes. Do you see him forgetting this philosophy towards racing completely? Or do you see him getting frustrated with the IRL rules, and try to change them, or leaving? Patrick McCallum West Palm Beach, Fla. Robin Miller: PATRICK: I think he got more frustrated with CART's lack of direction in terms of engines and venues but don't forget his ISC tie in -- that's a big part of this. He will refine his chassis like nobody else in the IRL, just like he did in CART, and his Ilmor engines will sing just like they did last year at Indy.
With Penske going back to the IRL, doesn't this just put us right back where we were 20 years ago? Penske outspends everybody else, dominates the series, etc. And how do Penske's two Brazilians make any easier for the Americans in the IRL? Mark Higgins Van Nuys, Calif. Robin Miller: MARK: Would that be the Can-Am series? I said on the RPM radio show tonight that the hypocrisy in the IRL is incredible -- they're giddy because Penske is coming back, the guy they hated six years ago and bringing two of those awful "furriners" -- we'll see how happy they are after next year is over. Very good point.
I'm stumped, please help me understand something! So Roger Penske is abandoning CART because Phillip Morris heavily sponsors the team, and Marlboro not marketing their products outside the U.S. makes the American-only IRL a better alternative than the globe-hopping, foreign-driver-dominated CART FedEx series? Well, if Ina Broeman (spokesman for Phillip Morris) really believes that "the IRL is more closely aligned with our business interests and objectives for 2002," why does Marlboro choose to spend their precious sponsorship dollars on Ferrari's F1 team? Surely F1 cannot be seen as an "American based series?"
So Marlboro is spending what must be tons of money on Ferrari even though F1
only visits North America twice, and hasn't had an American driver since
1993, and this makes sense even though they say they don't sell cigarettes
outside the USA! Either someone is lying about why they dumped CART, or Phillip Morris is as boneheaded as the CART management!
Thanks for treating racing fans like adults by telling us what really goes
on behind the scenes.
Robin Miller: ANDY: My pleasure. I don't think for a minute that Marlboro told Penske what to do but you can't underestimated his ISC holdings and the politics of that situation. True, Marlboro didn't advertise at Indy on race day but everyone knew which cars won and Marlboro is the one that didn't want to "rub it" in the IRL's face with a full page ad in USA Today after the Indy massacre. But Marlboro has been a great supporter of CART and it will be a big loss -- just like Team Penske.
What are the technological/political obstacles to CART adopting the complete IRL package? With Penske going to the IRL, I foresee their first-class operation blowing the doors off those second-rate IRL teams and putting the fans to sleep. If CART went to the complete IRL package, by dominating Indy, picking up a few promising young Americans, and with its diversity of venues and great competition they would surely steal all the IRL's glory. I know, I know, it's just all too logical. Scott Brakenridge Chicago Robin Miller: SCOTT: Yes, shame on you for being logical. There don't seem to be any obstacles in your theory. Lola and Reynard are building IRL cars for 2003 and the normally-aspirated engine is supposed to be in place by 2003 in CART so it all makes sense. There's that word again.
With engine manufacturers tellling CART what engines will be supplied, sponsors telling CART team owners what series to run in, broadcasting companies not showing over half the races, and the board of directors arguing over every they can to argue about, what are the chances CART won't be around in 2003 or 2004? Ken Uhle Kokomo, Ind. Robin Miller: KEN: Right now it's pretty dicey, especially if KOOL and Target move to the IRL. CART does have $140 million in the bank, FedEx as a series sponsor and 14 really good venues but it needs DIRECTION and, for my money, Chris Pook is the last salvation. He might be able to save the ship and eventually put things together with Tony George.
I have a couple of comments about the way the press is running this Penske to IRL story. First I am a huge CART fan and losing Penske is a blow, but the way that this is being spun that CART has wronged Penske by leaving Pocono and Michigan is garbage. Roger has some definite culpability in this whole IRL/CART mess. First, he rubbed Tony Georges face in his own rule book by running those 1000hp Illmore/Mercedes pushrod beast in 1994 that ran away with the race and planted the seeds for the IRL. Second, he knowing sold his racetracks to a company in bed with TG that did not have promoting CART races anywhere on it's NASCAR biased agenda. Now Roger tells us he was hurt because CART dropped his favorite races. Please! I know losing Penske hurts CART, but the question is does it really help the IRL? Joshua Weiss Chicago Robin Miller: JOSHUA: You are very perceptive and very correct. I wrote a column for ESPN.com about that very thing (Penske knew exactly why ISC wasn't bringing CART back) and that was always one of the worst promoted races on the circuit -- with or without RP as owner. The IRL zealots are all chirping today but isn't that a little hypocritical? Cheering for two Brazilians and the hated Penske team? The same team you despised in 1996 and were happy to see not at Indy?
Perhaps I don't follow CART closely enough to know all of the cast of characters that this soap opera has, so could you tell me why all the enthusiasm for Chris Pook ? I thought he was just a race promoter ? And if he is put in "charge" how can he do better than the last few? John Williamson Apple Valley, Calif. Robin Miller: JOHN: Pook is the only man I know of who got the best of Bernie Ecclestone. He can be ruthless, charming and cunning -- all in the same 10 minutes. He knows CART inside and out and the racing game and its politics. If he gets the owners of the board and is allowed to run the show, he can make a difference. He's the last hope.
When will CART crown three Champions? One for ovals, one for road racing, and overall Champion? $1 Million for overall, $500,000 for the other two champions. Armando Flores San Antonio, Texas Robin Miller: ARMANDO: Good idea, it would add some storylines but think if IRL and CART got together. You could have oval champ, road racing champ, Triple Crown (superspeedways) and overall champion.
By the time you read this it may be a moot point but nonetheless, if Chris Pook is not offered the CART CEO, how about Dan Gurney? I know he is involved with his son's racing, what are your thoughts? Mark Erdosy Bloomington, Ind. Robin Miller: MARK: Dan has the capability, just not the interest. He gave up trying to reason with some of those owners a long time ago. But his White Paper is what got CART started.
With regards to Penske's move to IRL, Tony George may be publicly proclaiming victory, but, I've talked to a couple of people who work at IMS and behind the scenes, they are worried. It's a double-edged sword; sure Tony wins, everyone has to play by his rules, but at the same time Penske (and other CART teams if they follow) will definitely up the ante.
Some IRL teams are barely treading water now. There is no way they will be able
to compete with any of the CART teams' budgets if/when they show up.
They are also worried that most of the IRL drivers don't bring sponsors with
them like most CART drivers, which could (will) result in them losing their
rides. Anyway, yes it's a victory for Tony and the IRL, but I think the current IRL
participants are going to find that the cost to be competitive just
increased exponentially. Perhaps out of their reach.
Robin Miller: SCOTT: Very well put and very true. I remember Leo Mehl's quote that if CART showed up at Indy with the same IRL cars and engines, the IRL would kick their (butt). Gee, that's not exactly what happened last May, is it? And it will only get worse for some of the pretenders in the IRL. Indy car racing is serious and big business -- always has been and always will be. We'll see if the IRL lemmings are still cheering in a year from now. Imagine, IRL teams and officials giddy over two Brazilians and the team they hated most joining the party.
Can you give us your breakdown of the CART field for 2002, with the number of cars you think each owner will field? I'm curious as to how you come up with less than 20 full-time CART entries. That seems awful low.
P.S. I remember when I was younger, watching you play basketball at the Madison Avenue Athletic Club. (I ran the clock.) You still shoot that many jumpers?!
Robin Miller: LANCE: Bless you son for calling that a jumper. It was a set shot but thanks anyway. NO, I retired several seasons ago. I still shoot 3s at the gym, by myself so I can get my shot off. Both CART and the IRL may be under 20 cars next year and that's not good. I can see Green (3), Ganassi (2), Player's (2), Rahal (1), Nunn (1), Sigma (1 or 2), Newman-Haas (2), Herdez-Bettenhausen (1), Patrick (1), Fernandez (2), PacWest (2), Walker (1). That's 20 with Dale Coyne and Larry Blair questionable.
Any word on who may get the second seat for Red Bull/Cheever next year? I understand both Rice and Ward tested well at Fontana. Is the ride for the entire season or just the 500? Thanks. Brent Stiles Cincinnati Robin Miller: BRENT: Both tested well but no decision yet. I assume it's full-time since Red Bull is a legit sponsor but I can't get Cheever to return my calls.
This is a suggestion not a question. Next year at Daytona Speed Weeks instead of calling them the twin 125s call then the Earnhardt 125s? Mike Duran Whitney, Texas Robin Miller: MIKE: Yes, but at least Little E won't be allowed to win both 125s. Maybe Kerry though.
We are having a lot of controversy with respect to the future of CART. What would it take for CART and the IRL to come together as one very appealing racing series for all open wheel racing fans? Any chance this may happen in the near future? Eduardo Escalante Monterrey, Mexico Robin Miller: EDUARDO: It would take common sense on both sides (extremely doubtful), CART getting off the public market and a combining of the best races in both series. I'd love to see that and so would anybody with passion for open wheel racing.
In response to your Q&A session on Dec. 2, McDonald's was the sponsor of Tony Kanaan's car when he was associated with Steve Horne's Tasman Team. You don't remember the "drive thru crew" campaign? William Emery Columbus, Ohio Robin Miller: WILLIAM: Thanks for that. I'm 52 and fading, obviously.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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