Check out what questions RPM.ESPN.com users had for Robin Miller -- and Robin's answers:

Robin Miller: Plain and simple, NASCAR has kicked everybody's butt in marketing their drivers. NASCAR is all about heroes and keeping the same drivers, sponsors, car numbers and color schemes has also been very beneficial. The IRL has had more than 125 drivers in seven seasons so obviously it's a little tough to grow identity, while CART was always about the owners and not the drivers. NHRA does a decent job but John Force commands most of the attention (as well he should). F1 has fanatics, but the race fan cannot connect with any of the drivers because they're not allowed within 300 yards of them.

Robin Miller: Max might end up in CART if Frank and Al Arciero field a car but he's also looking at IRL and sports cars. Thanks for watching.

Robin Miller: Good idea, bad timing. Those days are long gone as Bernie has a set number of cars (22, unless Arrows doesn't pay its engine bill) and no longer can Mario Andretti come in and drive a Ferrari. Doubt if Hornish would have been keen to try without extensive testing but Bryan Herta tested a Minardi recently and was trying to get some funding together but it didn't materialize. Thanks for your comments.

Robin Miller: I believe next year's series will be titled: The CART FedEx Championship Powered By Ford. Look for the announcement soon. Ford in the IRL by 2004? Very unlikely. The Cosworth program is for 2003 and 2004.

Robin Miller: No, the Cosworth deal is exclusive for 2003 and 2004. See answer above regarding Ford. Not sure what a carrying case is but thanks for watching and reading.

Signed, A reluctant new IRL watcher

Michael J. Nolfe
North Kingstown, R.I.

Robin Miller: A lot of people have voiced the same opinion to me lately. CART must figure out a way to bring back the racing that was prevalent from 1995-2000 and one thing that would help is more cars (but that ain't gonna happen next year) and a much better aero package for the short ovals. CART still has many excellent venues but the key is car count. CART needs at least 20 cars and, if they add a few young Americans from their feeder system, it can survive. But next year is the most critical. Pook seems to have a plan for 2005 but keeping everything together that long is a daunting task. Yes, had he been brought in two or three years ago, Honda and Toyota wouldn't be leaving.

Robin Miller: The crowds at Texas are quite good and Kansas City, Chicago and Kentucky were healthy (thanks to the NASCAR ticket package mainly). Phoenix has been a ghost town since CART left it while St. Louis, Homestead and Michigan are puny. Fontana was the worst modern-day crowd I've ever seen. Nashville had a full house but I understand it only holds 22,000.

Robin Miller: The fans vote but it's obvious by listening to the driver introductions at each IRL race or by checking her T-shirt sales or autograph lines that Sarah is the most popular. I think the F1 gig was obviously engineered by Tag-Heuer. Thanks.

Robin Miller: I talked with several little IRL teams at the Chicago race and they indicated they were looking doubtful for the IRL's higher budget but none of them said anything about CART as an alternative. I know a few IRL teams have made inquiries to Chris Pook but I'm not sure which ones. If Toyota and Honda move on, Tony simply pulls out his checkbook again.

Robin Miller: Next year, Mid-Ohio will be Aug. 10 and Kentucky on Aug. 17.

Robin Miller: Absolutely. Andretti and Al Unser Jr. are by far the most recognizable names, even though their glory days are gone, and Michael was one guy CART could always present to the national media and get respect (and/or print). Dario is also pretty marketable. It's definitely a blow but so is losing those three cars.

Robin Miller: Good point. SpeedVision does some neat things but it's only got 50 million homes. I'm sure it hasn't helped CART sell sponsorships although to be fair the IRL still lags way behind CART in sponsors in 2002. When IRL and CART went head-to-head on ABC and CBS, they both draw a 1.0 rating. Very sad, but very indicative of today's apathy toward open wheel.

P.S. I wonder if there'll as many complaints from Texas/Chicago season ticket holders about "being forced to buy" IRL tickets next year?

Bill Martin
St Peters, Mo.

Robin Miller: Good observation. One of the things that always set CART apart from everyone else was the fact the cars were fast and tough to drive because of the limited downforce. Unfortunately, it's also made for some pretty boring races the past two years. On the other hand, IRL cars have less power than a sprint car and more downforce than a World of Outlaws sprinter so they're easy to drive compared to champ cars. But their racing is always close because of those rules and the finishes this year were spectacular. Certainly more compelling to watch on TV. But running 220 mph is plenty fast enough and that's what the IRL cars did. It's just restrictor plate racing but fans seems to love it.

As for the NASCAR/IRL ticket packages, I'm sure some people object but if they go to an IRL race it's hard to think they weren't entertained. Especially compared to one of those Cup snoozers at Michigan or Chicago.

Robin Miller: No, I don't think Tony George had any vision except he always saw red when it came to CART and his goal was to bury them. They've obviously tried to help in the past three years. CART and Indy-car racing was at an all-time high in terms of competition, sponsors and attendance in '95 and the last thing open wheel needed was another series. The month of May and open wheel have been severely damaged by the split and I'd call Tony George a lot of things but savior wouldn't be one of them. If you don't think there's going to be a widening gap next year in the IRL, just wait.

Pasha Nosrat
San Diego, Calif.

Robin Miller: Good memory but I have to credit A.J. Foyt. He told me that in August of 2001 and I reported it the next day. Now I hear he's going to have Toyotas next year. What irony. Thanks for watching.

Robin Miller: The great thing about motorsports is that there are no secrets. Mechanics, drivers, owners, PR people -- everybody likes to talk about the secret stuff and deals. I've been around for 33 years as a reporter and I should be able to find things out -- with a little help from my friends.

Robin Miller: One was Michael Andretti's and I know Pat talked to Morris Nunn also.

Robin Miller: I openly criticized Tony George for starting the IRL because it damaged Indy and open wheel racing in general. There was nothing wrong with Indy-car racing in '95 -- great crowds, competition, plenty of sponsors and TV ratings that weren't all that far off NASCAR's. Now, both series are struggling for survival and NASCAR just keeps pulling away. But while I was critical of TG, I covered the IRL races and wrote positive features on IRL drivers and teams just like always but people never remember that. Bottom line, I have a lot of passion for open wheel and it kills me to see it dying. I hope it can be rescued sometime in the next five to 10 years and return to one, strong series but I don't hold out much hope. As for Pook, I give him credit when it's deserved and rail on him when it's deserved. But he inherited a pretty sad situation didn't he? Thanks for writing.

Robin Miller: I'm sure with the right team and testing program, an F1 driver could get competitive in NASCAR. Better yet, how about Jimmy Spencer running a McLaren at Spa? I'd pay to see it. At Montreal this year, the CART cars were six to seven seconds slower than F1 on the same track. But a few years ago, before the F1 tire war, the times were very similar. CART cars ran 240 mph on an oval (Fontana) and have the fastest straight line speeds but an F1 car is lighter, more nimble and therefore quicker on a road course. Unless it would be the old Spa or Monza circuits, then CART cars might rule.

Robin Miller: There is talk CART might return to Houston in 2004.

Robin Miller: If CART has any sense left, it will make sure at least three or four guys like Buddy Rice, Alex Gurney, Rocky Moran Jr., Jon Fogarty, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Joe Hand get a ride next year or there may not be any Americans in the series.

Robin Miller: I think Sears Point will be included and Indy may only be for the Infiniti Pro Series.

Now, two factual questions. First, will the IRL ever incorporate the word INDYCAR into it's name? I know there were copyright issues, and I thought the name went back to Tony George already or will soon. Also, do you think with more teams and more reliable equipment (i.e., Honda, Toyota and the possibly unnamed Nissan engine), that they will expand the races to 400 miles and a few 500 milers?

Whew, that was a long one for my first question to you, hope I didn't wear you out. One final thought, I may not agree with your opinions, but I like to read/watch them, so keep up the good work.

DJ Odom
Anderson, Ind.

Robin Miller: Thanks for your passion and honesty. In 1995, CART had its largest crowds ever at Phoenix, Milwaukee and Michigan, the TV ratings averaged 2.5 and weren't too far behind NASCAR and the competition was intense and getting deeper. Seven years later, we've got a Civil War with no winners except Bill France Jr. I always championed the little guy at Indy and if Tony George would have started the IRL in 1990 (like I once suggested to him), Indy-car racing might be King right now. I've badmouthed CART more than any other journalist in the past 25 years and praised it when deserved. I've dared to try and tell the truth about what was going on. But we all know that May has been reduced to a one-day event and open wheel racing is upside down. Indy car was actually leased to CART at one time but it belongs to Tony George again and I think you may see the Triple Crown reinstated (500-milers at Fontana, Michigan and Indy).