Q: It's about as hard to look in to the operation of someone else's company as it is to understand someone else's marriage. Nonetheless, when you see a history of divorce and ever-shortening unions it has to make you think about where the guilt might lie. As a long-time enthusiast, like so many, I was energized and encouraged by Randy Bernard. IndyCar was starting to look like a real national series that might actually compete with NASCAR for fans and offer the kind of spectacle and professional show that's needed to compete for sponsor dollars and fickle fans. It had a ways to go, but it was getting there. Randy Bernard seemed to handle the difficult team, equipment and money negotiations professionally, knowing all along that it would be impossible to satisfy everyone. His loss is a loss to IndyCar. Randy Bernard will doubtlessly contribute positively to his next challenge is but it's a shame that the Hulman/George cartel felt so threatened by his abilities that they couldn't let him finish what he had started in Indianapolis.

Wade Fuller

RM: Since we were never given any reasons for Bernard’s sudden firing, I think it’s fair to speculate his popularity bothered a few people but the fact he didn’t cowtow to their every whim made him unpopular. They can claim he wouldn’t communicate with them but that’s crap.

Q: The sudden departure of Randy Bernard, at least from the fan’s perspective, appears to have been met with near universal concern. Clearly Randy worked diligently, was in touch with the fans, and ultimately moved the sport in a new direction. Additionally, most fans would agree that this new direction bas been a positive direction. This all made him very popular. Ultimately, I believe this to be the primary source of concern regarding Randy’s departure; not so much for the man himself, but for the perceived progress that he symbolized. We are left with a fear that if the catalyst for these improvements can be ejected under a cloud of secrecy and mismanagement, then certainly these improvements were not valued by the board. There is fear that our beloved sport will return to the boorish period of stagnation experienced over the past decade. There is fear that the constant in-fighting and power-plays will create a more toxic atmosphere that will further promote mismanagement and incite crippling indecision. As a fan, I don’t need an explanation of recent events. In fact, I don’t believe that I am entitled to an explanation regarding Randy’s departure. However, I suggest that IndyCar should some quick assurances to its fan base that recent popular changes to the sport are recognized and valued among the current leadership; and more importantly, that the aggressive spirit of positive transformation that we have witnessed of the past three years is going continue.
Greg K., Indianapolis, IN
RM: Thanks, Greg. That might be the best letter so far to describe the situation from a fan’s perspective.
Q: I just wanted to chime in with why I won’t be attending any races or even watching on TV. I won’t even be watching the 500, which is the most exciting day of the year for me and always has been since I listened to my first one on the radio. I only missed listening to or watching three 500’s while I was overseas in the military. For me I’m leaving not because Randy was fired, but the overall arrogance of the board and some owners. For me I don’t see that Ganassi and Michael Andretti care that I spend hard earned money to travel to and attend races with my son. That people like me are helping to bring Indy car racing to another generation, something that the owners haven’t spent one moment or one dime trying to do. The overall feeling of the owners is they don’t need us, they’re rich and the show will go on without us. Ok, works for me, I won’t be following the sport at all. And for those hoping more up and coming open-wheel stars get a chance you now see why they are better off going to other forms of racing. I don’t care if you like NASCAR or not, they are at least smart enough to embrace open-wheel drivers and look at the championships those drivers won. And by the way if Ganassi is so damn smart then why the hell can’t he build a NASCAR team that can at least compete let alone win.
Mike, Northern California
RM: You make a good point. There has been a severe disconnect with the owners and paying customers for years and Randy (who by the way went from grandstand to grandstand on race day at Indy to hear what the fans liked and didn’t like) did the unthinkable – he listened to them. This new group of geniuses had best be listening to you folks.

Q: I have read lots of letters lately by people who are "done" with Indy Car, and others who are basically mocking them and saying when the dust settles they will support "the product" if it is good. I decided to add to the pile, because I wondered if there aren't a lot of people like me, who are somewhere in the middle. I have been a fan of open-wheel racing since my teen years, thanks to my Dad. I was sad when they closed Langhorne, sad when the USGP left the Glen, sad when they closed Trenton to build a sculpture garden, sad when they stopped racing real cars at Pocono, and later at Indy. But I found new races to attend, and I went to one or two CART races a year. And while I stopped attending races after the split, I wasn't done. I still watched the 500 on TV most years, still watched CART races if they were on. But I stopped planning my schedule around racing. I got back into racing in 2006, and went to six Champ Car races in 2007, in my mind the best races in a long time. And then with the merger, I stopped going to races, because almost all the races I was interested in attending were gone, and those left were a joke with the "Crapwagon." I still watched a race here or there when it was on, but again, I didn't plan on it. When Rodeo Randy took over IICS, it was like a breath of fresh air. I went to two races this year and had planned to go to five or six next year (on the fence about Sonoma), but waited on my ticket purchases due to the instability. Now, with the state of IndyCar, and with a seeming return to the status quo, I will go to Houston, because it is local, a great event if not a great race, and out of loyalty to Mike Lanigan who saved my favorite race once in Cleveland. But I plan to spend the money I would have spent on IndyCar on two F1 races instead. And while I will likely follow F1 religiously, and watch all of Sebring and Le Mans, I will go back to watching IndyCar if it’s on, and may or may not watch the 500, depending if there is something else fun to do that day. So I'm not done with Indy Car, but my enthusiasm is gone. I wonder how many people feel like I do. How many people are just saying, OK Hulman Georges, Penske, and Barnes and Barnhart. You win. You can have the sport, and play as you want. And I will watch it when there is nothing else interesting to do. But my enthusiasm is taking a break. I will have fun at Houston, but I will not try to round up a dozen people to go with me now, especially with no ALMS and no Atlantics. And, maybe I will find my enthusiasm for Indy car again, somewhere down the road. It's happened before. Maybe I won't. And maybe IndyCar won't be there anymore. Oh well.

Al MacKrell

RM: Nicely stated Al, trying to remain positive about IndyCar after this underhanded overthrow is going to be difficult for a lot of people (and not a lot of people care to begin with). As I’ve stated recently, IndyCar better hope there’s a ‘forgive and forget’ mentality by the time St. Pete rolls around.

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.