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

Robin Miller: It probably depends on Bernie Ecclestone's involvement and whether or not CART can generate some new manufacturers. Obviously, they're spending a lot more money than they're taking in right now, so there has to be fresh revenue by 2005. As for what they should do -- get Bryan Herta, Memo Gidley, Alex Barron, Rocky Moran Jr. and Alex Gurney in a car and build some American awareness. Also, don't turn it into a street series or it's all over.

Robin Miller: Hell, I'm not mechanically smart enough to answer that. Sure looks like different guys get different plates on occasion, but whatever NASCAR does is working so I doubt anything is changed.

The grid in CART looks better this year than I thought it would, and the racing has been decent. But what about those blank sidepods, and the ones with sponsors no one's ever heard of? How long do you think it will be before big sponsors return to the series (if ever)?

Jim Marietta
Cincinnati

Robin Miller: Good questions. Bernie always considered CART a threat to F1 (especially in the mid-'90s) but now I guess he considers it a potential investment and/or backup plan in case the manufacturers try to start their own series. I think he'll either bring F1 back to Long Beach (twin bill with CART?) or San Francisco or maybe try Las Vegas again, but I do believe it's outta Indy as soon as the contract ends. As for blank sidepods, in Stefan Johansson's case he's got a couple of money guys who don't desire to have their names on the sidepods and several of the other guys who are buying rides have some signage on but nothing major to speak of -- at least not yet. As I said in an answer above, if a couple big engine manufacturers jump in by 2005, that could kick start the CART economy but it's definitely going to need a cash infusion by the end of 2004 because, like Tony George, CART is having to pay for its own field.

Robin Miller: Not as long as it's owned by the Frances and Tony George.

Robin Miller: Oh, haven't you heard, Tony has decided to add a Figure-8 race and demo derby the same day. OK, I'm kidding but I couldn't agree more with your assessment -- those Infiniti cars and drivers don't belong on the Speedway and it's just one more dilution of Indy's magical month. But don't forget, this is also the guy who tore up the greatest oval in the world to accommodate Formula One (which will leave in a couple years).

Robin Miller: Well, Kansas City is France-owned and he's partners with Tony George so that's not likely. Kentucky might be worth a shot, although CART has so many Midwest races I'm not sure that's a good idea. But I'd much rather see CART run Kentucky than Laguna Seca. For sure, CART needs to keep its diversity of tracks because that's what makes it the toughest test of skill.

Robin Miller: I don't think Toyota will be back in CART. They achieved their goal of winning the CART title and after they win Indy and the IRL title they'll pack up and be off to NASCAR with Roger Penske.

Robin Miller: I think (hope) Alex Barron gets a ride and, considering Gil's condition, I think it's a safe bet The Captain will run three cars. Yes, the G Force is RP's safety valve in case the G Force is the car to have (don't forget Bruno Junqueira won the pole in one last May and Tony Kanaan was the fastest car in the race before he hit that oil slick of Bruno's).

Robin Miller: Absolutely. The IRL and CART just fall off the map after they open the season and while they don't need to race in January or February, they need at least two races in March and April. They need to try running on Wednesday nights or Christmas Day, anything to get away from NASCAR and to try and draw a new audience.

Robin Miller: It's shameless to watch one guy have one set of rules and everyone else play by another (Kinda like A.J. Foyt and USAC in the '70s) but everybody in NASCAR is making so much money nobody seems to want to call them out. But what they did to that kid in the Busch race at Texas is a perfect example of what a joke the NASCAR rule book is. Go to SpeedTV.com and read Ben Blake's commentary on NASCAR. It's priceless and spot on.

Robin Miller: I imagine by the time Chevy upgrades, Honda and Toyota will also have found a little more steam. But the GM folks say they'll have something new for Indy. They better. Sam Hornish is yet to lead a lap in 2003.

Robin Miller: There may have been 15,000-18,000 people, but that's a far cry from the last CART crowd in 1995 (64,000) and the crowds at Phoenix have been pathetic since the split. On top of that, throwing the Copper World into the IRL weekend has ruined that event's attendance because there used to be 35,000 just to watch the midgets, sprints, dirt cars and supers. There is a movement underway to take the Copper World somewhere else. To answer your question, no, the crowd stunk and it was a perfect day.

Robin Miller: Well, in theory that sounds pretty slick and considering CART races in Europe, Australia, Mexico, Canada, it might make a lot of sense. But just getting one primary sponsor these days would seem to be welcomed. CART looks like the IRL did in 1996 with all those empty sidepods -- unless you count Jimmy and Ryan.

Robin Miller: Glad you asked. I said something to AJ and Anthony's father at Homestead -- like why has this kid with no experience been thrown into an Indy car? They both said there was nowhere else since he'd already won the Infiniti series, but this young man has no experience (F2000 and two Silver Crown races don't prepare you for Indy.) Anthony is a good kid and I think he may have talent but he's trying so hard to please his grandfather and the legacy, sure he's intimidated and scared and confused -- man, he's only 18. I told AJ, "You weren't even running midgets when you were his age" and AJ puts a lot of pressure on this kid. Plus, with no engineer, I doubt he's getting the best possible setup. Anthony has crashed six times already and I just hope he doesn't get hurt. It's not a good situation.

Robin Miller: I know Disney wanted an event in January and that was too early for the IRL or anybody else so that's why it stopped. But don't forget, after that first year, they kept taking bleachers down every year to make it look good for TV (kinda like CART at Cleveland last year) and they gave away a lot of tickets so I don't know how successful it really was. Thanks for agreeing with me sometimes, though.

Robin Miller: C'mon brother, Brian Barnhart said that bump day was going to be exciting and he never lies. Oh yeah, he said there would be 40 cars, too, and they'd need more pit boxes, aw, never mind. This week he said "so what if we only had 28 starters at Indy" (Honest, he said that -- an Indy paper reported it). I'd say tradition died a long time ago at Indy (25/8, adding Lyn St. Famous in 1997, changing practice and qualifying) so, where was I? Oh yeah, I would think Barron and Papis will get a shot, maybe Memo Gidley and Billy Boat. Possibly Bryan Herta? I do believe there will be 33 cars come race day.

Robin Miller: Most of the CART drivers who bought their rides are always in danger with this economy and I imagine the pressure is on Sharp and Unser, although maybe not. If Scheckter crashes a few more times, he could get Ganassied. Too early, really.

Robin Miller: I've always defended Sarah because I think she had ability, I know she's got guts (track record at Winchester in a midget) and she's good for open wheel, just like Danica Patrick, because they're the only two women who have ever come up the right way and were the right age to make it. Trouble is with Sarah, she needed some seasoning but got thrown right into the deep end because the IRL needed a headliner. A couple years of Atlantics would have been perfect, but she didn't want to (Derrick Walker tried). When the car is right, she is very capable of going fast (second at Homestead to Hornish and a pole last year). Of course, we all knew she wasn't going to win at Phoenix because she was out of sequence, but it was good for television. And we all know IRL and CART need all the good television they can get.

Robin Miller: I think Kenny Brack will be a factor and the people you mentioned above but unless you've got a Honda or Toyota it's going to be tough sledding. Too early to make my pick, I don't want to upset the Las Vegas line just yet. Thanks.

Robin Miller: I would think Morris Nunn might come back first since he's a road racer but I'm not sure how much longer he wants to do this. Not sure anybody in CART can afford Dario right now and I don't know if CART can match the money/engines/salaries being paid by Honda or Toyota. I think maybe it's more likely an IRL team will go to CART, although I have no candidates at the moment.

Robin Miller: Richie's fatal mistake was turning down Bobby Rahal a few years ago and staying loyal to John Della Penna. Sadly, he's been relegated to a substitute driver and that's not likely to change. It's too bad because he had a bright future but CART certainly didn't try and do him any favors so it's not all his doing.

Robin Miller: That's not a likely scenario but how about starting a series where a driver has to run Indy cars and dirt cars? Oh yeah, that was USAC before it screwed up the championship trail. I do agree that CART had better get some new Americans in cars or it's going to be an F3000 finishing school and IRL is strictly a stairway to Winston Cup.

Robin Miller: Carbon fibre has probably saved a lot of lives so I would say it's got to stay.

Robin Miller covers open wheel racing for ESPN and ESPN.com.