The first 2011 Silly Season driver/team thread

[Enjun Pullr]

Looks like a lot of the reporting is right on Nascar's own site, which was a first visit for me. Props to them for accuracy and full disclosure.

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/busi...ble/index.html

[Jag_Warrior]

Good article, Enjun Pullr. Yeah, lots of good info there.

Even though this is Silly Season, I think it's a bit too silly to speculate that RPM is spending any amount of time trying to put together a deal to enter the IRL. I've not seen the first, credible bit of information that makes that anything more than a fantasy. It's about the same as when Champ Car had its foot to the floor, headed for the wall, and many loyal CCWS fans wanted to believe that McLaren or Mercedes would/could/should leave F1 and come to Champ Car... because it was "cheaper". One of the most recent comments by Petty (that I've read) was this one from ESPN: "I've been here since 1949 and I'm going to be here till they run me off,” Richard Petty told ESPN Sunday at Martinsville. IMO, it would be more likely that Petty would take the #43 team (which he owns, according to ESPN) and get a sponsor for that team to run in Nationwide, or he merges it with Michael Waltrip's Toyota backed team... with whom he had discussions in Martinsville.

If Best Buy (or any other NASCAR sponsor that is on the fence) really could be swayed over to the IRL, then I suggest that Andretti Autosport, KV Technology, HVM, and all of the others who are starving to death for cash, CALL THEM. Get a meeting! But in the case of Richard Petty, I think it's more likely that he'll have a Nationwide team, and about as likely that he'll have a Grand Am team next year (or the year after, or the year after that) as an IRL team. He's fighting with his last bullet to stay in the sport that he loves, and that is NASCAR Sprint Cup.

[Lee Roy]

Indycar fans mistake Richard Petty's involvement with the Indy 500 for the last two years as a genuine interest in Indy Car racing instead of what it really is; lending his name and involvement as a favor to John Andretti, with whom Petty has a genuine friendship. Andretti stayed with the Petty's in their home when he first got involved in NASCAR.

Once John Andretti is through with Indy, Petty will be too . . . . . if not sooner.

[Enjun Pullr]

I missed this when it came out last month, and didn't realize Lotus was committed to staying with KV. Autosport confirmed it:

"Lotus to expand KV partnership


By Matt Beer September 28th 2010, 13:59 GMT

Lotus Motorsport will expand its IndyCar partnership with KV Racing in 2011..."

So if the Lotus plans are true, they run two cars as had been announced at the beginning of 2010. In KV cars, not a new team of their own.

[grungex]

That is surprising news, indeed...

[Enjun Pullr]

Well, this is why I hate silly season threads and should have stayed out of another one.

The bisquit who reported that Hildebrand tested for Panther was a liar. My apologies for repeating it here.

Panther tweeted on their account that they haven't tested anybody anywhere.

[Chamoo]

Well, this is why I hate silly season threads and should have stayed out of another one.

The bisquit who reported that Hildebrand tested for Panther was a liar. My apologies for repeating it here.

Panther tweeted on their account that they haven't tested anybody anywhere.

They have spoken to J.R. about 2011. Someone at the National Guard might had smartened up and decided that an American in their car would be a good idea.

I wonder if the GM announcement comes through, I wonder if they would look at placing a driver or two with teams they expect to have close connections with in 2012, for the 2011 season to get them accustomed to the teams and such.

[MDS]

Marshall Pruitt has a very informative article:

KV is working on a bigger deal with Lotus, but it isn't enough money for them to hire whoever they want so their still looking for drivers with funds/sponsorship. It sounds like Takuma will be back for sure, E.J. actually has sponsorship and they're waiting to see what Graham, TK and Wheldon are doing before finalizing their lineup.

Graham has apparently said there will be an announcement in the next 10 days.

Panther plans on testing a few drivers next month, which probably means they're not in the Justin Wilson sweepstakes, at least for the National Guard car.

HVM hopes to have funding/sponsorship for Simona soon

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...new-lotus-deal

[Chamoo]

Panther plans on testing a few drivers next month, which probably means they're not in the Justin Wilson sweepstakes, at least for the National Guard car.

I would love to see Panther run only US drivers at this gong show test. JR, Summerton, Buddy Rice, Townsend Bell etc...

It sounds like JR has the inside line on the National Guard car. You have to wonder who would possibly be in the second Panther car, if they do decide to run a second program.

I guess you could look at Justin Wilson bringing the Z-Lines sponsorship to the team in a second car, TK maybe bringing some Brazil sponsorship for the second car, Rahal bringing his sponsor for the second car, or Ed Carpenter and Fuzzy's for an oval only schedule while bringing in a road course specialist for the twisties?

[Placid]

It will be a downfall if Panther chooses 2 drivers. 1 for ovals and 1 for road/street courses. Hildebrand is a decent road racer. If that is the case, I like to see a GP2 team take JR. Then F1.