So what do the drivers do?

[Turn-In]

This is a serious question, this isn't a champ car or IRL biased question.

What will the drivers do? You know, the ones like Montagny, or Bernoldi. I know a lot of you may say who cares?

Montagny and Perrera showed just how quick they were in testing. However, will Montagny decide to rethink his options when they change to a heavily oval based schedule. I am sure he can adapt to a different car, that is what all drivers do and that is what makes a good driver in some aspects, but will he want to take a chance with Ovals, and a team/engineering staff that has not worked on this car just to race midpack, or will he decide to hop back across the pond?

I can see most drivers staying, but do you think you will have any deflectors to GP2 or F3 or A1GP or even Superleague?

Just something to ponder while we wait for the announcement.

On that subject, who will be the surprises on the ovals?

Just killing time before anything is set in stone or not.

[heelntoe]

This is a serious question, this isn't a champ car or IRL biased question.

What will the drivers do? You know, the ones like Montagny, or Bernoldi. I know a lot of you may say who cares?

Montagny and Perrera showed just how quick they were in testing. However, will Montagny decide to rethink his options when they change to a heavily oval based schedule. I am sure he can adapt to a different car, that is what all drivers do and that is what makes a good driver in some aspects, but will he want to take a chance with Ovals, and a team/engineering staff that has not worked on this car just to race midpack, or will he decide to hop back across the pond?

I can see most drivers staying, but do you think you will have any deflectors to GP2 or F3 or A1GP or even Superleague?

Just something to ponder while we wait for the announcement.

On that subject, who will be the surprises on the ovals?

Just killing time before anything is set in stone or not.

I think it's a great question that I'm sure is filling the monds of those drivers...too bad RM can't work a story on that question. It's obviously too late for those who would defect for this year, but a good discussion to have. Personally, I think Oriol could be a surprise on the ovals and clearly, most would like to see PT make or break on another attempt.

[Turn-In]

You think the ones that hadn't signed a contract could leave if they wanted to? I would doubt it due to the contracts with other series being complete already...but it is possible.

Also, i wonder if because it does not say champ car world series, if their contracts are effectively null and void.

It almost exciting about all the drivers being in one series. Even if you are not a fan of the equipment or tracks, you can have a "civil war" inside of the series and root for your fav cc drivers and vice versa.

Thanks for the comments!!

[indycool]

Legit question because very few of the CC group have ever been on an oval, very few have ever exceeded 200 mph anywhere, very few have ever encountered the traffic on an oval and very few have started three abreast like they'd be doing at Indy before.

Some have made the transition very well historically -- Fittipaldi and Mansell, for instance. Others haven't. Time will tell.

[CCFanatic]

I do not think many of the older guys, like Montagny or Bernoldi would continue in the US. They'd race sports cars or touring cars.

[nigelred5]

I would suppose a lot would depend if any sort of major sponsorship materializes in the short term as a result of a reunification. Racers will stay if there is a decent paycheck.

[Turn-In]

PG is stating his driver and sponsor will not transfer over to the Oval racing in the IRL. No offense to the driver, but if you are not interested in ovals, even part of a biggers, then you are smart to get out beforehand. Just for the sheer fact, that to be good, you WILL have to tackle all the courses and if you regret doing a race, that is not a good thing, and you will not be happy.

PCM before the season stated they picked Champ Car because they did not like ovals. Now, rumors are coming about they may go to ALMS.

Either way, there will be enough drivers. It sounds like PT, and Will Power are ready. We have already heard from Graham Rahal as saying it is a positive thing. So there are 3 strong (compared to some genuinely rookie talent) drivers right there, that are unphased and probably pretty psyched to compete collectively against North Americas best driving talent, even if the cars will be slightly behind unless they grab an IRL engineer...which i am sure they are or will be bid on!

[Ruben Barrios]

"Montagny and Perrera showed just how quick they were in testing."

Testing in Sebring seldom shows anything real... Last year Legge was very fast in Sebring and ... well the rest is history...

On that note though, It sucks for a lot of people... This is the heart of the matter, a lot of good people suffer becuase these &^* guys could not be straight...

I also wonder if this situation catches the attention of the new NASCAR crowd...

Things can only get better from now on...

[indycool]

It will be different for them, especially at Indy. But that doesn't make things impossible, either. Juan Montoya had never driven an IRL car, had limited experience on ovals, had never driven a 500-mile race before, had never started three-abreast before and had not driven a lap at 200 miles an hour before and dominated the Indianapolis 500. Bruno Junqueira won the pole as a rookie under the same circumstances. A solid balance of talent, thinking and balls is necessary. Some have it. Some don't. But that's nothing new.

[vintage]

Be interesting to see where the Atlantic drivers end up. I would sort of expect the European guys to return to the old country.

[SoCalPVguy]

So what do the drivers do?

Shut up and drive.

[PTCrash3]

It will be different for them, especially at Indy. But that doesn't make things impossible, either. Juan Montoya had never driven an IRL car, had limited experience on ovals, had never driven a 500-mile race before, had never started three-abreast before and had not driven a lap at 200 miles an hour before and dominated the Indianapolis 500. Bruno Junqueira won the pole as a rookie under the same circumstances. A solid balance of talent, thinking and balls is necessary. Some have it. Some don't. But that's nothing new.

Yeah, and after the race JPM said "These cars are so easy to drive my grandmother could do it." No challenge there.

db

[PTCrash3]

I think a bigger question is what will this do to the driver contracts? Will Tracy come over with FPR or will his contract be voided by this agreement? If CC goes bankrupt my guess is all bets are off regarding contracts and sponsorship.

So what will the field look like? My best guess:

AGR - 4 cars
Penske - 2
Ganassi - 2
Rahal - 1?
Panther - 1?
NHL - 2
FPR - 1 or 2
PKV - 2
Walker - 1?
Conquest - 1?
Coyne - 1?

That's 19 cars. Any other IRL teams that will run without more money coming their way?

Would Minardi run in a strictly US based series? Rocketsports - No. PCM - Unlikely.

[indycool]

Guess his was. He won.

Some do, some don't. Maybe he'll send his grandmother up to try it.

EDIT: To Post #2: Vision will have one with Carpenter. D&R will field at least one. Sarah Fisher is still working on her own team. I've heard a report that Stoddart really hasn't said anything but Wiggins could field a car. Ganassi could be three, depending on what he decides to do with Alex Lloyd. Panther is set with Meira. N/H/L is said to be looking for an experienced oval driver to maybe run three and help its other two drivers on ovals (could well be Junqueira, who was with 'em before). PCM has said two things: That's going to the IRL and it's going to Grand-Am. Flip a coin where it lands. Agree on Rocketsports no.

[PTCrash3]

Guess his was. He won.

Some do, some don't. Maybe he'll send his grandmother up to try it.

EDIT: To Post #2: Vision will have one with Carpenter. D&R will field at least one. Sarah Fisher is still working on her own team. I've heard a report that Stoddart really hasn't said anything but Wiggins could field a car. Ganassi could be three, depending on what he decides to do with Alex Lloyd. Panther is set with Meira. N/H/L is said to be looking for an experienced oval driver to maybe run three and help its other two drivers on ovals (could well be Junqueira, who was with 'em before). PCM has said two things: That's going to the IRL and it's going to Grand-Am. Flip a coin where it lands. Agree on Rocketsports no.

So that's 21 if my guesses are right, plus maybe 4-5 more. I'm thinking a max of 24.

db

[Alexamateo]

I think a bigger question is what will this do to the driver contracts? Will Tracy come over with FPR or will his contract be voided by this agreement? If CC goes bankrupt my guess is all bets are off regarding contracts and sponsorship.

So what will the field look like? My best guess:

AGR - 4 cars
Penske - 2
Ganassi - 2
Rahal - 1?
Panther - 1?
NHL - 2
FPR - 1 or 2
PKV - 2
Walker - 1?
Conquest - 1?
Coyne - 1?




You've left off Foyt & D&R with at least one entry, Roth with 2 car entry, and Vision with at least one entry for Carpenter


Edit: had not seen later posts, so this info is somewhat redundant.

[indycool]

True, I forgot Foyt and Roth's two with Manning, Roth and Jay Howard all signed.

[Cart750hp]

So that's 21 if my guesses are right, plus maybe 4-5 more. I'm thinking a max of 24.

db

Max 24? Your name better not be Kevin Kalkhoven.

[jwhite9185]

It will be different for them, especially at Indy. But that doesn't make things impossible, either. Juan Montoya had never driven an IRL car, had limited experience on ovals, had never driven a 500-mile race before, had never started three-abreast before and had not driven a lap at 200 miles an hour before and dominated the Indianapolis 500. Bruno Junqueira won the pole as a rookie under the same circumstances. A solid balance of talent, thinking and balls is necessary. Some have it. Some don't. But that's nothing new.

Montoya had driven in 2 500 mile races in CART in 1999. And he had driven in at least a few oval races that season, so he wasn't that inexperienced.

[indycool]

I stand corrected on that one, jw.....my point is that many of today's CC drivers won't have that luxury and time will tell if it's their "cup of tea" or not. My guess is some will be pretty good at it and some won't. Jimmy Clark won Indy and Foyt will say to this day that he's the toughest driver he ever faced. The great F1 champion, Juan Fangio, turned tail after a couple practices and went home. And there's been everything in between.

[Fangio]

I stand corrected on that one, jw.....my point is that many of today's CC drivers won't have that luxury and time will tell if it's their "cup of tea" or not. My guess is some will be pretty good at it and some won't. Jimmy Clark won Indy and Foyt will say to this day that he's the toughest driver he ever faced. The great F1 champion, Juan Fangio, turned tail after a couple practices and went home. And there's been everything in between.

So with that logic, Buddy Lazier was better. Go to youtube and look at the old footage. It`s more than likely boredom that "turned tail".

[indycool]

Guess he's a better oval racer at Indianapolis.