1. NASCAR's Nationwide Series won't be returning to Mexico City next season (read more). Is this the right move?

David Caraviello: Part of me hates to see this happen, because I don't think anything else NASCAR has done has built better bridges to the U.S. Hispanic community. But the attendance fell so precipitously in recent years, it seemed the writing was on the wall.

Dave Rodman: Considering what they said in April, it's an outright shocking move in some respects. What remains to be seen is how committed they truly are to the brand in Mexico -- because the Corona Series is great, right now.

Raygan Swan: My guess is the track is not happy and believes it is a bit unfair, but with declining attendance and soaring costs for teams to travel, it's best to let the Corona Series take it from here.

David Caraviello: No question the teams hated going down there. It was expensive and arduous and a very long trip. Nothing about it was easy. They had to swap cars in Laredo. It was a pain.

Dave Rodman: As we know, attendance is the proverbial slippery slope, right now. If it ain't the economy, it's the new car. And if the new car starts a snowball rolling with issues like we had at Indy, or perceived poor racing, look out.

David Caraviello: But I am a little confused here. I thought the whole reason this race was launched was to build more of a fan base within the Hispanic community in the United States. And they're pulling out, they say, because they've achieved the mission of building a NASCAR series within Mexico. So which is it?

Dave Rodman: They may be doomed to that "stand alone" syndrome, though -- where a crowd of 50,000, which would be phenomenal for a touring division event at many venues anywhere, is dwarfed by the Autodromo's size.

Raygan Swan: Yeah, it doesn't make sense if attendance has cut in half at the Nationwide event. But they say all is well with the developmental series.

David Caraviello: But Dave, as history has shown us, 50,000 at a Nationwide standalone in this country isn't a sure bet. One reason this race went south to begin with was because standalone Nationwide events here had such trouble drawing people.

Dave Rodman: I haven't thought about it much, but it's easy to make the leap that "creating Hispanic fans in the U.S." was just so much diversity window-dressing -- but all fans have money to some degree, and obviously that's any promoter's language, so I won't spear NASCAR for that. Attendance is such a tough topic, because unless you're the IRS or some other government entity, it's tough to get honest answers.

Raygan Swan: Still, I think there are plenty of ways to attract Hispanic fans and increase diversity outside of moving a race to Mexico.

David Caraviello: I was under the impression that the Mexico race was part of a multi-pronged initiative that also included things like broadcasting races on Spanish-language radio stations. Nobody ever said it was permanent, but I also didn't expect the plug to be pulled so quickly. But whether it's Rockingham or Mexico City, tons of empty seats never look good on television.

Raygan Swan: I hate to see the date gone, because I feel the sport benefits from the road-course events and it can sometimes be a benefit to global sponsors.

Dave Rodman: The Corona Series may satisfy what they want, which is developing talent that could move to the U.S. national tours. You have a real diversity of ages in Mexico's national series, but a kid like Antonio Perez could be on his way to making the jump; we've already got Jesus Hernandez on the verge of making the jump; Rogelio Lopez and the Pardo brothers have already had success, and Paulie Harraka is about to make his Camping World debut.

David Caraviello: So if one of those kids hits it big, then the short-lived Mexico City date may ultimately be called a success. The race did have its share of entertaining moments. That Montoya vs. Pruett argument still rages.

Raygan Swan: Funny you mention that. I talked to Pruett recently and they can laugh about it now, but he did give JPM a shout out in his childrens' book. Talking about "the red car on the track that bumped him."

David Caraviello: Mexico City may be gone, but the argument lives forever!

2. Who's most to blame for last Sunday's debacle at Indianapolis: NASCAR or Goodyear?

David Caraviello: I've said it once, I'll say it again: This was a complete breakdown by everybody. NASCAR's restrictive test policy backfired. And Goodyear's assumptions blew up in their face.

Dave Rodman: Boy, there is a lot of confusion surrounding this one. In my opinion, probably 60 percent Goodyear, 40 percent NASCAR -- unless NASCAR has more control over Goodyear than we think they do.

Raygan Swan: I've read so many stories and listened to so many explanations this week, but ultimately the buck stops somewhere, and it has to be NASCAR. I have to believe they are ultimately responsible for quality racing conditions and could've conducted a more fruitful tire test back in April.

Dave Rodman: But Raygs -- only if they have oversight over Goodyear's decisions. And since Goodyear is a supplier, I think NASCAR leaves the responsibility to bring the right stuff up to them.

Apology accepted?

"We're sorry." It's rare in sports, but on Tuesday it's what NASCAR's Robin Pemberton said. That, writes David Caraviello, can go a long way.

• Complete story, click here
• Pemberton: 'Never again'
• NASCAR issues apology

David Caraviello: From everything we've heard thus far, it seems the Goodyear folks were ultimately the ones who said, "Hey, the track will rubber in with more cars on it, and it will be OK." If there's a smoking gun here, that's it.

Raygan Swan: You know what, with all the problems recently, like at Atlanta, there needs to be more oversight and involvement. They rolled the dice, Goodyear did, and lost. But NASCAR agreed and went along with the assumption that everything was going to be OK.

David Caraviello: But you know what? This year's testing sites came from a poll of crew chiefs last year, and they're the ones who ultimately chose Phoenix and Pocono over Indy.

Raygan Swan: Well then maybe it was NASCAR's job to remind them of the repeated tire issues at the IMS.

Dave Rodman: The tragedy is, Goodyear really gacked by trying to do the right thing. You don't have to read much into Greg Stucker's comment that "we had a better [safer, more track-compatible?] tire, but it would have handled badly." Goodyear didn't want the boys singing about having to work too hard, so they wussed out at the critical moment.

David Caraviello: And there's also talk in the garage that the teams chosen for these tire tests work harder to get info for their own organizations than for Goodyear, which defeats the whole purpose of tire testing anyway.

Raygan Swan: Good point, David. So what needs to change moving forward? The car or the tire? But something absolutely needs to change.

David Caraviello: I just don't understand the logic sometimes. They know they have problems at Darlington, so they go back a second time to get it right. And then they have problems at Indy, and make a stab at it.

Dave Rodman: It's Goodyear's responsibility to get the information they need to make a decision. Sorry to self-promote a comment Junior made in my Tuesday column (read it here), but Dale Jr., who I'm glad to say is a driving fool, said the "better" tire he tested in April would have worked better. It was the one Goodyear chose not to bring.

Raygan Swan: Yeah I would say Dale Jr. should've spoken up then! Not after the race.

Dave Rodman: But he was only responsible for testing and offering input. Goodyear went home and made the decision.

Raygan Swan: Well then, that's selfish in my opinion. Every once in a while you can do something for the greater good.

David Caraviello: But again: the crew chiefs stand up and say, "We want an Indy test," and perhaps none of this happens. Of course, we're asking them to be clairvoyant here. But that's part of their job, right?

Dave Rodman: You don't want to drive a 50-ton earthmover over them, but if NASCAR has no oversight over Goodyear's decisions and doesn't communicate between tire tests and production, then the fault is 95 percent Goodyear's.

Raygan Swan: But David, tires have been an issue before at IMS, so no they don't have to be clairvoyant.

Dave Rodman: DC, do you think they would have had to rant and rave and lobby for the "right" tire? And history has some validity -- this was a severe anomaly. So do you think the drivers and crew chiefs would have opted for the more drivable but less durable and track-friendly tire anyway, never predicting the disaster they were fomenting?

David Caraviello: Dave, I don't know. But with a full-field test, Goodyear would have known the track wouldn't rubber in as expected, and wouldn't have had to wait until event weekend to find out.

Dave Rodman: And just to tick everyone off one last time, as far as refunds go, let me use this parable: If Jon Lester started a game against the Yanks, walked the first three hitters, gave up a grand slam to the cleanup man; four more runs in the first inning and the Sox lost 24-0, would either team give the attendees a refund? Would they replay the game? No. The Sox stunk that night, so get over it. Ditto the 2008 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

David Caraviello: And thus sayeth the Book of Rodman.

3. Which will be a more compelling race this weekend, Sunday's Sprint Cup event at Pocono or Saturday's Nationwide tilt at Montreal?

David Caraviello: Vive le Montreal! I guess that's how you say it. Gosh, we can only hope for something like last year's Robby Gordon vs. Marcos Ambrose confrontation. Pocono can't match that.

Raygan Swan: Well, Robby Gordon won't be there to punt Ambrose and conduct his own Victory Lane celebration in Montreal. But then again, some drivers have been highly critical of Pocono this season.

Dave Rodman: I think there is no question that with the way the table was set last year -- Robby in the 2008 house or not -- there is no question Montreal is tons more compelling than Pocono.

Raygan Swan: You're right, Dave. During the last Pocono race I had time to go outlet shopping, if that tells you anything.

“

On one hand you have French food and a cosmopolitan, almost European city. On the other you have a triangle on a hilltop. You make the call.

”

DAVID CARAVIELLO

David Caraviello: On one hand you have French food and a cosmopolitan, almost European city. On the other you have a triangle on a hilltop. You make the call. Of course, if one right-front tire at Pocono begins to show the first sign of wear, then watch out!

Raygan Swan: Triangle on a hilltop, poor-to-no cell service, no nightlife ...

David Caraviello: Come on, Raygan. There's plenty of nightlife in Pocono! All those heart-shaped bathtubs!

Raygan Swan: Eeeewwww. Again, it's the media center bathroom where all the other reporters can hear your business that disturbs me most!

David Caraviello: All right, maybe not. But the folks in Pocono must be doing something right. They've been on the schedule forever, and they sell tons of tickets with two races only a few weeks apart. Give 'em some credit.

Raygan Swan: The racing is fine, not as fun as the road course in Montreal, but fine. And I've heard the track pulls from a broad market? Explain further.

David Caraviello: That's New York City's racetrack, baby. Closest Cup circuit to the Big Apple, if I remember correctly. That's it's trump card. And I'm not talking about Donald Trump.

Dave Rodman: Pocono is a tradition that definitely doesn't need to be messed with at this point. The Docs Mattioli have done a lot of good things, it's a neat area, so I say game on.

David Caraviello: And all the people that fill that big grandstand would agree with you, Dave.

Dave Rodman: Now, if they did something about 500-mile races, I wouldn't complain. But to get back to Montreal, if it ain't a barnburner again, I hope people don't demand their money back. That was weak. Of course, as the favorite phrase goes these weeks, it seems like, "I have no skin in that game," so I apologize to all the hard-working fans who feel slighted.

David Caraviello: But Dave, you are correct in that there are some fans out there who have quite the sense of entitlement. Guess they've never been to a baseball game that's been rained out. Of course, that's not excusing what happened at Indy. Let's hope all those tires hold out at Pocono!

Dave Rodman: The people who gave me elaborate explanations of what they watched and were entertained by at Indy were more like the page I'm on -- but we're regressing. With Boris Said and Scott Pruett, a rejuvenated Marcos Ambrose who'll be coming off a Road Atlanta test for the Wood Brothers -- though that place is nothing like Le Circuit Gilles -- not to mention the intrigue those Canadian heroes Carpentier and Villeneuve muster. Voila!

David Caraviello: Is this the beginning of another of Dave's parables?

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.