2008 GP2 Champ to IndyCar?

[Placid]

After winning the GP2 crown at Monza this past Saturday, former Champ Car driver Giorgio Pantano is weighing his options if an F1 ride is far from impossible.

If an F1 opening does not open, he might come back to IndyCar.

Report:
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/gp2-pantano-back-to-america/

[FIA]

Was he in Indycar?

I think unless Force India or Williams offer him a seat then he may have to settle for Indycar, still good though. maybe Panther or Newman-Haas, I think that maybe Senna might go to Indycar is doesn't look like there is any room for Bruno at the moment. (I hope he gets into F1, and doesn't end like Paul Di Resta and miss out on being in F1 when he should be in F1.)

[bblocker68]

I thought Senna was being pursued by STR??

Not sure about Pantano. He's long in the tooth for F1. But so was Seabass.

[cos]

Was he in Indycar?

Couple of races with Ganassi in '05, tested PKV that season as well. A story broke in 2003 that he had signed for a team called BC Motorsports in CCWS with Sunoco sponsorship but it all turned out to be something someone made up :S

Maybe if Forsythe do turn up in IndyCar they could run Pantano and Montagny... that would be an interesting lineup.

[elis]

Was he in Indycar?

Yes, in '95 he did 2 races for Ganassi in between his GP2 racing. He finished 4th at Watkins Glen, & 14th at Infinion.

[dataman1]

In 2005 CCWS Spring Training he tested with PKV.

[gm99]

Yes, in '95 he did 2 races for Ganassi in between his GP2 racing. He finished 4th at Watkins Glen, & 14th at Infinion.

2005, not '95 ;) Pantano was sixteen in 1995...

[MDS]

Was he in Indycar?

I think unless Force India or Williams offer him a seat then he may have to settle for Indycar, still good though. maybe Panther or Newman-Haas, I think that maybe Senna might go to Indycar is doesn't look like there is any room for Bruno at the moment. (I hope he gets into F1, and doesn't end like Paul Di Resta and miss out on being in F1 when he should be in F1.)

Why does everyone keep mentioning NHL? They have two marketable drivers that both won races. I'm almost 100 percent sure both will be back in 09

[DBell]

Pantano rumors are popping up? That means the Jos Verstappen rumors are ready to begin. :D

[Jag_Warrior]

Was he in Indycar?

I think unless Force India or Williams offer him a seat then he may have to settle for Indycar, still good though. maybe Panther or Newman-Haas, I think that maybe Senna might go to Indycar is doesn't look like there is any room for Bruno at the moment. (I hope he gets into F1, and doesn't end like Paul Di Resta and miss out on being in F1 when he should be in F1.)

As far as I know, Senna has never mentioned racing in the IRL, or even North America. If Berger is not able to offer him a seat at STR, or he cannot arrange for a seat elsewhere, then I expect Bruno will spend next year testing in F1. But the current IRL car has a similar hp/weight ratio as the GP2 car. There's nothing to be gained by him coming here.

Pantano, being something of a journeyman, will probably race where ever he can get a seat. I always liked Giorgio. I never understood why he couldn't get things to fall his way.

[elis]

2005, not '95 ;) Pantano was sixteen in 1995...

Haha, now who put that pesky 9 button right next to the 0 on my keyboard :crazy: ;)

[DanicaFan]

It will be hard for any driver outside the series to get a ride I feel. Vitor Meira will get a full time ride before this Pantano will.

[Chamoo]

It will be hard for any driver outside the series to get a ride I feel. Vitor Meira will get a full time ride before this Pantano will.

Not nessicarily. I think between Vitor and Pantano, the main race for them over the off-season is finding the most funding possible to bring to an ICS team. The only way Vitor gets in without funding most likely is at Luczo Dragon.

I wonder if DCR would consider running three cars if the money was there for it?

I also wonder what would happen to Tomas Scheckter if Vitor takes his spot?

[bblocker68]

oops, delete.

[beppe64]

Latest news from Italy said that Pantano is waiting an answer from a Formula 1 team and there is a strong possibility to be in IRL in 2009 too.

[ShiftingGears]

Pantano rumors are popping up? That means the Jos Verstappen rumors are ready to begin. :D

Difference being that Pantano has actually won something in open wheel racing in the last 15 years :p :

[Mark in Oshawa]

Another F1 wannabe coming to the IRL because he cant go to f1? I thought the IRL was about promoting North American talent?? oh right....never mind. I am sure he will do ok but it seems looking to Europe hasn't stopped in the last decade....and at some point someone should be looking at the fallacy of it from a marketing standpoint.

[F1boat]

Mark, maybe it is because american drivers prefer career in NASCAR,

[Chamoo]

Or maybe European drivers are better suited towards the new IRL schedule.

[Cart750hp]

It will be hard for any driver outside the series to get a ride I feel. Vitor Meira will get a full time ride before this Pantano will.

These first couple of years together, I agree. TG and other teams may still be looking to keep the IRL drivers due to their oval experience. Vitor alone is a very good driver.

But it's so interesting to see where this series may lead to once or if more ex-F1 or more road course drivers are coming in. You'll have the current list of drivers, add ons from F1, IPS (lite), Atlantic, former CCWS, NASCAR, ALMS, etc. So, would it be the drivers will change the course of the series or the series will change the drivers? I like both. There are tons of seats to fill in that CCWS and IRL were having a hard-time filling in when they were still two series. So, this reason alone will make you looking forward to the next year's and the year after competition.

[call_me_andrew]

I thought the IRL was about promoting North American talent??

And NASCAR was about promoting what a modifed street car can do. We're all whores.

[elis]

Drivers who race in Europe are schooled from an early age about selling themselves to sponsors, it's not just about the driving, which is why in some part, they are able to get into these drives.. may not be right, but it seems to be the way it is. If an American driver can bring a wad to the table then I don't doubt he'd be in a seat... so where are the American drivers with their sponsors in tow? :s Can't really blame, or be bitter about the Euro or South American drivers. Look closer to home ;)

[beppe64]

yesterday in a television program to italian tv Giorgio Pantano said that he will test IRL Team in next time.

[nigelred5]

Personally, I'd rather see the snot nosed kid down the street with Daddy's fat wallet. I"ll watch GP2 if I want to see GP2 drivers. I want to see drivers that want to be in Indycars drive in Indycars. If I want to watch a development series I'll watch Atlantics, IPS, GP2 etc. I got sick of seeing CART/ Champcar and now the IRL as nothing more than a ride buy until someone can get a job as an F1 test driver. Bourdais came over here and won how many championships, and yet it was obvious every time he opened his mouth he never wanted to be there.

If Pantano wants to come over here, commit to a few years and contend for a championship and then maybe move to F1, ok, but coming over here just to keep his backside seat warm waiting for an F1 ride, no thanks.

[F1boat]

nigelred, I think that Pantano can't enter F1 now... if he comes in the IRL, it will be for the rest of his career IMO.

[nigelred5]

If that's the case, I'm fine with it. I just hate seeing drivers blatantly obvious in their disappointment having to race in Indycars. It's far better "racing" than F1 IMHO. No it's not a glamourous, and no you can't trade Places like Singapore for Newton Iowa, but from a pure racing standpoint and potential for winning races, it's hard to beat.

[NickFalzone]

I didn't read the article closely, but Danica and Marco are in:

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/a1gp-andretti-green-racing-to-run-usa-team/

[DexDexter]

Personally, I'd rather see the snot nosed kid down the street with Daddy's fat wallet. I"ll watch GP2 if I want to see GP2 drivers. I want to see drivers that want to be in Indycars drive in Indycars. If I want to watch a development series I'll watch Atlantics, IPS, GP2 etc. I got sick of seeing CART/ Champcar and now the IRL as nothing more than a ride buy until someone can get a job as an F1 test driver. Bourdais came over here and won how many championships, and yet it was obvious every time he opened his mouth he never wanted to be there.

If Pantano wants to come over here, commit to a few years and contend for a championship and then maybe move to F1, ok, but coming over here just to keep his backside seat warm waiting for an F1 ride, no thanks.

Pantano has absolutely no chance to go to F1 so if he goes over your side of the pond, you have no need to fear him going anywhere.

[stephanieluis]

Seven British drivers lined up for the start of the American open wheel season last year, the final campaign to see the sport split between IndyCar and Champ Car. Now, with the first unified season on the horizon. with Sebastien Bourdais now gone to F1, Wilson looked a good bet for a future title - and his regular appearances on the front of the post-Bourdais Champ Car website suggested the series owners were ready to promote him heavily. All that has now disappeared, as he faces up to a couple of seasons playing catch-up alongside the rest of the ex-Champ Car drivers entering IndyCar.
--------------
Stephanieluis


Inspire Internet Marketing (http://www.drivenwide.com)