Q: Let’s face it, the Month of May isn’t what it once was in Indianapolis, and it’s depressing to see them run for the pole position in front of a (practically) empty speedway. I have been to ‘500’ twice (1992 and 2011) and plan to go this year, travelling in from California. I know that this is idea is not new, and when I first heard it, I shuddered … but I think it’s time to make some bold changes to the program at Indianapolis. And that idea is that the 500 should be compacted into one long weekend. Carb day is moved to Thursday, Pole Day is Friday, Bump Day is Saturday (along w Freedom 100 and Van Halen concert during midday hours), and Greatest Spectacle in Racing is on Sunday, as always. A three-day Indy 500 ticket, that included qualifications, would have so much more value than the current Friday/Saturday. All of the fans (like me) that travel in for the race would be there for qualifications, and you’d probably see 100,000 fans turn out for pole day and bump day. Have the parade and 500 festival on the Saturday before, which would be a great PR event to remind citizens that the race is coming up and open the speedway for practice the following day. One week of practice at the Speedway should be sufficient. Gone are the days where teams showed up with untested Indy “Specials.” They don’t need two-three weeks of practice … put another oval on the calendar (like Phoenix) two weeks before Indy. I think that the new leadership needs to make some bold steps such as this.

Paul Davis

P.S. Your three-day ticket include free admission to the “Night Before the 500” race … more value and that place would be PACKED!

RM: I wrote something similar to your idea back in the late ‘90s when there would be two-three hours without a car on the track during practice and it’s probably the only way to restore any kind of crowd to qualifying. It would certainly ramp up the intensity but you could qualify everyone on Friday and have Saturday for Lights, carb day and the parade.

Q: I think the doubleheaders are going to be a good thing for the ICS, but there's one piece of information that I haven't seen. How will the starting grid be put together for the second event? Barring tricks like inversions, drawing numbers, etc. either use the original qualifying order for both events or set the starting grid for the second event the same as the finishing order from the first event. However, there is a third possibility. Have the Grand Marshall, or some other dignitary, do a draw that would determine the usage of one of the methods mentioned above. That would add a bit of surprise to the proceedings with resorting to silliness like inversions or having the drivers draw numbers. So, is there a plan already?

Don Hopings, Corning, NY

RM: Beaux Barfield says they are looking at a couple options but nothing has been decided as yet.

Q: Was Roger Penske serious about his offer to Tony Stewart to drive for him in 2013 Indy 500? Who do you predict as 2013 IndyCar Champion? Any other predictions for 2013 season?

AJV in Montgomery, IL

RM: I wasn’t at the NASCAR banquet but I assume he was unless RP and Brad had too much to drink. I predict Will Power every year. My 2013 prediction? Car owners will bitch.

Q: Not that I give a damn, but what is the risk of Chris Pook and Bernie Ecclestone rekindling their romance from the past and having the Long Beach Grand Prix be an F1 event? Bernie has expressed interest in more F1 races and this would, along with New Jersey, give him three … East, West and Central. I recognize that the sanctioning fee quoted by Bernie is outrageously high but Bernie will do what it takes to get what he wants. The "event" in Long Beach will be as big no matter who is sanctioning the race. Most attendees won't know the difference. How does Pook feel about the situation with the morons in Speedway, IN? Those amateurs won't know what hit them if Bernie decides he wants the North American market.

Rob Roten, Sprint Hill, Tenn.

RM: First of all, Long Beach belongs to Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerry Forsythe so Pook would have to convince them to make a change. Their sweetheart sanction deal with IndyCar ends after 2013 but unless they found a big time sponsor for F1, it’s way too pricey.

Q: I'm part of the reddit.com Indy car community and to keep ourselves occupied over the long off-season we've been posting up a "nostalgic race of the week" featuring a classic Indy car race from the last 40 years or so using footage we find on Youtube. Anyway, I was wondering what you consider the "best" USAC/IRL/CART/Indycar/Champ Car races of the last 30 or so years, and why? (And, a quick word from a passionate UK fan - PLEASE keep up the good work. I enjoyed the few grid runs we got to see from you on Sky. Your opinionated reporting is always worth reading. And I reckon 2013 will be a decent season, off-season politics notwithstanding.)

Alex Collingridge

RM: Mike Mosley going from last to first at Milwaukee in Dan Gurney’s Eagle, most of the twin 150s at MIS in the ‘70s, this year’s Indy 500 but I guess my favorite would be the 1982 Indy 500 because of the drama of Mears catching Johncock and the deafening roar of the crowd for 10 laps.

Q: Robin, who in your opinion was the single best CEO from CART, Champ Car, IRL, and IndyCar?

Mike Talarico

RM: I thought Jim Melvin did a good job as CART’s early CEO and Randy Bernard was making good progress before being dumped. There have been 20 or so in the past 30 years and none are very memorable, other than their missteps.