Q: OK, here's what worries me most. I've cooled off as you suggested many of us do regarding Randy and had time to really think it through and think about should worry us all most, maybe it's just me, but I think most hardened, longtime fans would agree with my top five concerns:

1. First and foremost - Brian Barnhart is still in the mix and as crazy as it may sound what if his position changes to anything to do with technical package, or race director. Can someone, anyone in the IMS corporate moronathon group please explain to me how the hell you give Randy the AXE and Brian Barnhart still has a job? Seriously … Brian Barnhart cost them more bad PR, bad calls, bad everything and that guy still has a job? Who the hell does he have enough dirt on to keep his job?

2. Anything serious changing in the technical package - especially on ovals. Pack racing was gone, Texas and other similar mile-and-a-half ovals are possible with testing and a similar low downforce package, not only did it make racing on those types of tracks possible, the racing was straight up bad-ass and it was like that on every oval. Brian Barnhart could foul this formula up if allowed to be involved and this scares the hell out of me.

3. Can the new team maintain good enough relationships with the new tracks Randy put together in order to maintain those new relationships and begin to form more continuity in the schedule from year to year?

4. Can the new team maintain the positive momentum, other than the end of the split, this year was by and far the most positive and momentum gaining year (up until Randy got the axe) since the start of the split, can the new team maintain the positive momentum and even surpass it?

5. Brian Barnhart is still in the mix.

John Cassis, Houston, Texas

RM: Brian Barnhart is in Las Vegas as we speak, representing IndyCar in some kind of seminar so we should all be concerned. Belskus also likes Brian Barnhart so that’s another strike. But it would serve the owners and series right if Brian Barnhart came back and ruined some of their races. Hopefully they’ll be smart enough to leave Will Phillips alone. Ditto for Beaux Barfield. Randy had everything lined up nicely for 2013 with the schedule, TV but who knows what Belskus & Co. will do down the road?

Q: The more I read and hear about the IndyCar mess, the more I think Randy got the better end of this deal.

Donald Parish

RM: Randy will be fine; it’s IndyCar I’m worried about.

Q: My question is that since Randy is now a consultant for IndyCar (and I understand a 7-digit gig) what will be/should be his role? Randy is a guy that does not give up and do you think there is an opportunity for him to re-take the lead (get his job back or play a significant role in IndyCar)?

Tony Grego

RM: I don’t think he’d want to come back and work for these snakes but I talk to him a couple times a week and he’s still got passion for what happens to IndyCar.

Q: Aside from the politics of IndyCar I am looking forward to the 2013 season. That said I am NOT a fan of these doubleheader race weekends with two separate races at the same track. Just leaves me confused and cold and I may give those races a miss. But what really continues to concern me is that IndyCar has such a LONG off season near six months with no presence. Is anyone working on a way to say stretch the season though say eight months? With the upcoming GA/ALMS merger for 2014 there must be tracks which need races.

Ian Jardine

RM: All I know is that Bernard eventually wanted to start the season in February and end it in November because he understood you can’t have a six-month gap. Will the new regime follow that lead? Got me.

Q: Now that NBC will cover F1 do you have any idea if/how that will affect IndyCar TV Coverage on the NBC Sports Network? I hope the F1 TV package is not better than the IndyCar TV package.

Jamie A. Carr, Lebanon, Ohio

RM: I think it’s going to help a lot but don’t forget that four F1 races are slated for NBC network so that’s a big plus for them.

Q: Any chance of admission of Ford as an engine supplier to Indy?

Fernando Molano, Colombia

RM: Randy Bernard had been talking to Ford about possibly coming into Lights with the hope it would expand into IndyCar but not sure where it stands.