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

Robin Miller: F1 is an acquired taste and the people who attend those races don't care if it's a single-file funeral procession or the only lead change is in the pits -- they like the noise and waving Ferrari flags and checking out the ladies. The cars are technically challenging to drive and the money (at the top end) is the best in the motorsports world. Kenny Brack said he decided to come here and not pursue F1 because he liked competing too much and if you didn't have one of three seats, you had no chance to win -- ever. And he's right, of course. Zanardi and Montoya conquered America and F1 is their lifeblood so I understand why they went. Ditto for Villeneuve.

Robin Miller: CART is contracted thru 2004 (I believe) but, obviously, ISC prefers IRL since they are partners. Of course ISC also prefers a profit rather than 75,000 empty seats and even CART's worst crowd at Fontana has been 70,000-plus. Pook understands the importance of CART's track mix and I'm sure he'll try to keep Fontana. As for Michigan, hard to say. ISC has lowered the ticket prices for all the IRL shows and will promote Michigan this year -- unlike the previous years. Sadly, CART's best oval races and draws are in Japan and Europe (other than Fontana). But maybe Milwaukee can be saved with a good wing package.

Robin Miller: Ford's racing side doesn't seem to care about open wheel right now but it's marketing side seems to want to be involved in the Indy 500 so we'll see which group rules. But Cosworth may get some kind of indirect Ford backing if its new CART engine is badged. You would think Ford vs. Chevy would be enough enticement, but ...

Robin Miller: I asked Mario about it last month and he said it looked like it was dead in the water. It would be fun to see Parnelli, the Unsers, Andretti, etc., out there mixing it up but, on the other hand, open wheel needs to cultivate some new heroes and CART needs to spend its money marketing them.

Robin Miller: Good question. Lola is currently swamped so I doubt it can take on any more customers so the Reynard boys may have to pool their resources to try and keep up. Tom Elliott of Honda looks very brilliant, yes.

Robin Miller: Your logic is hard to argue with but Ford (see question above) seems to have lost interest in open wheel so the natural Chevy/Ford war is on the backburner. Because CART is an international series, Porsche and Audi make sense and, obviously, CART needs more big-time manufacturers. Especially if Honda doesn't return in 2004. NASCAR has always seemed more passionate about makes and models than open wheel but there's no doubt that rivalry has plenty of followers. Thanks for watching.

Robin Miller: No, not this year.

Robin Miller: I asked Chris Pook that question and he couldn't answer it. I think Castroneves and de Ferran have said they will only be in the IRL for this season and I believe their contracts are both up so maybe RP is trying to cover all his bases. Or maybe he's just messing with CART.

Robin Miller: That's what my spies tell me. Maybe Audi too. I'll find out more in a week.

Robin Miller: I agree, she would be very beneficial and, if you watched her on Bob Costas last year, she's pretty knowledgeable about race cars despite her short exposure. However, she seems to shy away from the public at races (except when she ran the pit board at Mid-Ohio last year) so I don't know if that's anything she'd be interested in. She's pretty busy with films also. But it's a good idea.

Robin Miller: I've pointed that out for as long as the IRL has existed and the fact remains that if people aren't forced to buy a ticket, they won't go. Look at Phoenix since CART left. Loudon was a disaster. Homestead is a dead end and Fontana was the most embarrassing crowd in modern motorsports history. Nazareth and Michigan have lower ticket prices this year but don't bet on the crowds being higher. ISC's greed is well documented, but I do think the people who show up at Texas, K.C. and Kentucky enjoy the IRL show and it's better than thousands of empty seats.

Robin Miller: Actually, the Infinitis seemed to have the most power at Fontana (Laurent Redon beat the Penske boys and, trust me, it wasn't driving skill) but Panther and Speedway Engines definitely have things figured out. A lot of people seem to think Hornish is cheating, but I can't believe the IRL would allow that. At least not until Indianapolis. Penske will get the most out of Ilmor, but he'll be a Toyota factory team next year. Thanks for watching.

Robin Miller: It's a sad story, top to bottom, watching Unser's demise but he can hang on for as long as IMS funds his career. NASCAR has 25 guys who make a living out of hanging around. Does he make a difference in the grandstands? Judging by Fontana and Phoenix and Homestead, I'd say not a blip. Unfortunately, neither does Team Penske.

Robin Miller: I plead guilty. Yes, I am insanely jealous of NASCAR's incredible crowds and TV numbers. It makes me crazy that CART and the IRL put on great shows at superspeedways and draw 100,000 less people than a Winston Cup drone-a-thon (like Michigan or Fontana) and I'm always sniping at NASCAR because of its hokey family-first, God loves us personna. I like watching Stewart, Gordon, Harvick, Newman and the handful of guys who gas it (gee, they're almost all from open wheel) but most of the open wheel folks seem to think some of NASCAR's "amazing, too good to be true" winners are more WWF and less Fireball Roberts. I do think there is a mutual respect from the drivers, however.

Robin Miller: If CART has an ounce of sense (and I think Chris Pook is very smart), young Ms. Patrick will be in an Atlantic car soon. She's got the talent and the resumé and she would be perfect for CART to cultivate with what they lack most -- young fans.

Robin Miller: Parker is covering NHRA for ESPN and seems to be enjoying himself. The only thing that's got to be tough for Parker is describing something in under four seconds. He's a good guy. Thanks for watching, but don't admit to anybody you agree with me or you'll be locked up.

Robin Miller: Naw, Villeneuve can't take the pay cut and he's won the race so why would he? To be competitive, you say? That would be enough to bring most guys back, but I can't see it. Dario is almost too old for F1 and he seems to like it over here. I think he's got the perfect style and temperament to run well at Indy. He's my darkhorse pick.

Robin Miller: As much as it's the IRL vs. Team Penske, I truly do not believe George and Co. would do that to the other competitors (although Foyt's team won all those poles in 1998 by three mph so nothing is out of the question). I just think Hornish and his team have a handle (pardon the pun) on the handling tracks and he's a damn good driver with guts. Besides, nobody cares about Homestead and Fontana, the only race the IRL really needs to win is Indy.

Robin Miller: This was discussed in another question above. On one hand, it's a facade to pound your chest about big crowds when people had to buy your tickets. On the other hand, it was 100 degrees in K.C. last year and the place was packed and I think those people left feeling like they had got their money's worth. So, yes, it's disingenuous to crow about sellouts but if the people keep re-upping and turning out, maybe they become open wheel fans.