Q: If I were an owner I’d be pissed at the things that IMS has pulled and still pull. The prize money is a joke they get no share of the TV or sanctioning money. Dallara and IMS have hosed them on the price of spare parts. Really the new car is hideous, and another ****wagon. When Carl pulled the plug on Newman/Haas I knew things really were bad on the owner side. The series is a buy rider series -- he who has the most money gets a seat.

Mark Wilson

RM: Well, it’s a Catch 22. The purses suck because all that money went into the Leader’s Circle, which is the lifeblood of IndyCar right now. There are still some teams that hire drivers but the talent level has improved greatly from those early ride buyers in CART.

Q: Ok the chase idea is complete rubbish! To quote Jim Mora: "What's that ? Ah - playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs?" Yes that was my reaction too! Penske: any chance you can talk him into putting white rims in Power’s car like he did for Brad K. in Cup? Kinda neat when I saw the car a couple years ago in Indy garage being pushed to pit lane.

Gary McDonald

RM: I agree, we don’t need no stinking playoffs. As for white sidewalls, I always loved the Novi when Andy G. used them and it’s a great way to pick out the car on television and in person.

Q: Why has there never been a wind tunnel facility in Indianapolis? Has there ever been talk of building one, and if so, where, when, and by whom? I ask because it seems Charlotte gets a lot of international business and attention due to its facility, including the failed American F1 team headquarters. Why wouldn't IMS partner with the city, ad IUPUI to build a world-class wind tunnel facility? It seems that would attract companies and teams associated with auto racing, including manufacturers that the IndyCar series is trying to attract to build cars and/or body kits, as well as business involved in aeronautical, aerospace, aerodynamics industries, and thus attract the employees with technical skills they need that would then provide more personnel as resources for IndyCar teams to tap into. It would also provide a key research tool for Purdue engineering programs at IUPUI and place them above their competition. And, obviously, it also provides a tool for current and future IndyCar teams to use to improve their performance. May get some interest from Formula 1 and Le Mans prototype teams to come here for testing instead of other faculties. Why hasn't that been built or been discussed? Seems a win-win for the city in terms of jobs and international recognition, a win for IndyCar series and its teams and vendors, and for IUPUI or even Rose Hulman to have that facility for research and education. Seems a no-brainer.

Pete Clarke

RM: Reynard built a small wind tunnel along with a 7-post shaker rig back in the ‘90s on the northwest side and it gets quite a bit of use. Not sure how much business it generates but it used to stay fairly busy.

Q: One of the contributors to last week's mailbag made the comment that Tony Stewart was "scared" to run in the Indy 500. He also noted that Tony Stewart was too fat to get into an Indy car. When I think about those comments, one word comes to mind: really? First and foremost, when Smoke first ran Indy back in 1996, he was still running a turbocharged car. My guess is that those cars were closing in on 240 + (maybe faster) at the end of the straights. Even though Stew has aged a bit since then, I highly doubt that the speed would bother him. My guess is that anyone who can go out and win in a 410 sprint car and a midget (see last weekend's victory for Smoke in the POWERi midget series) is not afraid of a little speed. Also, we are all aware that Smoke is bit heavier than he was in the late 90's and early 2000's, but I'd be willing to bet that Dallara could find a way to fit him into a car (see Justin Wilson) if he really wanted to run. But, that's the whole crux of the matter. Tony understands that it's hard to run a one-off at Indy and be competitive. Plus, he's so heavily invested in his Sprint Cup program, it just doesn't make sense for Tony to risk it all on the Indy 500. I'm sure he'd like to win the 500 (who wouldn't want to), but, at this point in his life, his priorities are simply different than they were 15 years ago. Finally, as you always say, I'm sure he couldn't afford the pay cut!

Jay Matheny, Mayfield, KY

RM: He would only need a couple days to get acclimated but I understand he doesn’t want to show up and run for 10th place. Driving for The Captain would be perfect except for that pesky Mobil 1-Shell conflict and that’s the main reason it’s not going to happen. Has nothing to do with Stew’s size or commitment.

Q: The one thing I really miss about the old days of Indy cars is the innovation. I loved when Penske rolled out the Mercedes engine, when new chassis would come out, the different looks etc. It added some intrigue to the off-season and even more anticipation at Indy. I know owners are freaked out about aero packages because of the cost of the spare parts, but do you think IndyCar would ever consider going with aero packages just for the Indy 500? It would return some of the innovation and intrigue to qualifying and to the race without the cost of spare parts for an entire season.

Nick Koster

RM: I would hope that something in that direction is forthcoming because that’s the only way we’ll probably ever see a nice crowd again during practice or qualifying.

Q: Let me preface my question with a couple of quotes. Ayrton Senna after his first IndyCar test, ‎1992: "[The Indy car is] more drivable. In a way it’s more for the driver, which is great. … I had to get used to driving with a gear lever again, to a clutch pedal, to the turbo engine, and to the brakes, which are completely different from those in F1, not being carbon brakes.

"The Penske reminded me of the old days in Formula 1 where human side was the most important thing. Today Formula 1 is so sophisticated that the computers do most of the driving for you. If you have a clever computer, you are in good shape; if you have a monkey one, you’re in trouble, you know? What I experienced with the Indy car was that human input has a tremendous value—and I really got excited about it.

“It’s a funny feeling for me, after so many years of driving in Formula 1, to have those feelings like you are very young, much younger than you are, which is great. For the first time in some time, racing was fun again. It was a tremendous challenge, but I think it has rejuvenated me.”

Conor Daly after his first IndyCar test, 2012:

"It kinda reminded me of a World Series by Renault car with carbon brakes and big downforce and I didn’t feel as much power as I expected."

Ahem. Here's my question, looking forward: What are the odds that we see the increased boost levels in 2013 that we kept hearing the drivers were requesting? Has Randy's departure changed that probability in any way?

Mark Zastrow, Boston, MA

RM: Almost to a driver, they all want more power – especially on the road courses – but not sure it’s realistic to think the current displacement can produce enough to make a difference.

Q: Every time I see something about B. Barnhart returning I throw up in my mouth, doubt I'm the only one. As time has moved forward since firing Randy I have yet to see anything indicating the doom and gloom predicated by other fans is not warranted. I know you have said most will return when St. Pete rolls around but I'm skeptical. So here is my litmus test. At this point, which I'm guessing is the slowest time of year, how are the email numbers looking compared to years past for this time of the year? I think that as much as anything is an indicator of fan interest after the continuing debacles.

Bob Young, Cincinnati

RM: Well, the volume of mail always slows down in the winter (especially with six months between races) so I don’t gauge much by that. I’ve never had more emails than after Randy Bernard’s firing and it will gradually pick up after spring training.