Will Sam Hornish win a race in 2010?

[Andy Harrison]

Hornish has completed three seasons in Nascar now, will 2010 be the season to record his first victory? He seams like a nice guy but does he have what it takes to make it in stock car racing?

Nice interview with Hornish
http://grid1.tv/#browse/media_vault/drivers?id=1_268

[Lee Roy]

The only way I can see Hornish winning a NASCAR race is if he survives a crash-fest unscathed at Talladega, much in the way that Keslowski won there earlier this year.

Otherwise, a couple of top-5's for Hornish will be his career high-point in Cup.

[harvick#1]

theres always Joey Lagano's rain out win, stay out as long as you can and pray for rain

[NickFalzone]

I say yes, simply because he's Roger's boy and he's going to get good equipment for years to come. It will probably come on some sort of rain/fuel/restrictor type of situation but I think it will happen. I do not however think Sam will finish higher than 20th in the points anytime soon.

[beachgirl]

No.

[Sparky1329]

No. He doesn't have a lot to work with in equipment. He could hypothetically get a fluke win but not because he has the fastest and best handling car.

[NickFalzone]

Kurt was a front-runner in the championship, so I think the equipment at Penske is solid, at least for their top car.

Edit - sorry I just read the title again and realized Andy was asking about 2010. No, I don't! I thought the question was would Sam ever win a race... so ignore my previous comment.

[call_me_andrew]

I'm sure he'll win something before 2015, but probably not in 2010.

[The instant classic]

if Sam wins it will be half the cars pit and Sam and a small group stay out the rain falls and Sam wins,

[Continental Op]

neber!

Sam Hornish Jr is the ultimate proof how little racedriver skill there is involved in running in the indy car series, he proves it again and again 38 weeks a year.

Next year this will be further underlined by the guy some like to call Krashalowski Sr

[Mark in Oshawa]

SAm may luck into a win, but no I am not thinking he is a threat to make the chase. He is proof positive not everyone can leave the IRL and come to NASCAR and make it. Before anyone rights off any ex Indycar drivers, Allmendinger is showing signs of getting it, and may I remind all of you that Tony Stewart came from the IRL as champion. JPM won a CART championship. Both made the chase and one of them has two Cup Championships. It CAN be done....just Hornish isn't the guy.

[slorydn1]

I think its possible, tho unlikely. I can see caution for rain coming out in the middle of green flag pit stops and hornish lucking out into a win

[The instant classic]

as much as i like Sam and hope for him to win a race in Nascar, it's time for him to return to indycar.

[Mark in Oshawa]

as much as i like Sam and hope for him to win a race in Nascar, it's time for him to return to indycar.

That isn't your decision to make. It is his, and whomever will give him the equipment to race. Penske isn't dumping Sam any time soon, and he has shown some improvement every year. As long as that continues, he has a ride.

[The instant classic]

That isn't your decision to make. It is his, and whomever will give him the equipment to race. Penske isn't dumping Sam any time soon, and he has shown some improvement every year. As long as that continues, he has a ride.

never said it was my decision

[Mark in Oshawa]

You said it was time for him to return to Indycar. You obviously feel that, and I am just saying his time to go back there will be when Roger feels there is no more juice left in the lemon.

I don't think there is a place for him in Indycar right now, and I also think he has no desire to go back. What is more, I think there are far worse drivers holding down jobs in the Cup series than Sam Hornish, just some have managed to keep people they drive for happy somehow,or can hide their lack of results in blaming the team.

[The instant classic]

You said it was time for him to return to Indycar. You obviously feel that, and I am just saying his time to go back there will be when Roger feels there is no more juice left in the lemon.

I don't think there is a place for him in Indycar right now, and I also think he has no desire to go back. What is more, I think there are far worse drivers holding down jobs in the Cup series than Sam Hornish, just some have managed to keep people they drive for happy somehow,or can hide their lack of results in blaming the team.

i said send him back only cause look how well dario did this year.
i would love for next year Sam has a break out seaon and have a David Reutimann year, a win and some good finshes

[El Libertador]

Sam won't go back to IndyCar. He said he'd rather race in Truck than the IRL.

Sam had some good races. He wasn't great, but he improved a lot, honestly. Will he win? Doubt it. He's got to impress this year, though, if he wants to stick around. Penske's got Allgaier waiting, and Kligerman in a few years, so Sam might have to try to open up some more doors. If Kurt Busch does leave at the end of 2010, though, it may just save Sam, as Justin can move to the 2.

Who knows, though? I don't think Hornish is very good, but he's not the worst out there, and he's actually learning.

Driver skill in the IRL? Not going to get involved in that war. All I'll say is that you can't compare. A NASCAR driver could go to the IRL and chances are he or she would struggle. Neither is "harder" to drive; they just require different skills, mindsets, etc. Hornish has to get some credit for actually sticking around to learn it.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Sam won't go back to IndyCar. He said he'd rather race in Truck than the IRL.

Sam had some good races. He wasn't great, but he improved a lot, honestly. Will he win? Doubt it. He's got to impress this year, though, if he wants to stick around. Penske's got Allgaier waiting, and Kligerman in a few years, so Sam might have to try to open up some more doors. If Kurt Busch does leave at the end of 2010, though, it may just save Sam, as Justin can move to the 2.

Who knows, though? I don't think Hornish is very good, but he's not the worst out there, and he's actually learning.

Driver skill in the IRL? Not going to get involved in that war. All I'll say is that you can't compare. A NASCAR driver could go to the IRL and chances are he or she would struggle. Neither is "harder" to drive; they just require different skills, mindsets, etc. Hornish has to get some credit for actually sticking around to learn it.

You figured that out right I figure....and excellent points on the difficulty of the IRL vs NASCAR. Too many fans on both sides of the divide have yet to figure out that both forms of racing are unique, not better or worse from a driver's stand point. The IRL snobs always knocked stock car racing, and stock car people don't get OW. Then there are hardcore raceheads like me who have watched a ton of both over the years. I can say very drivers excell in both, and you have to know the two that can are top guys. Tony Stewart, and Juan Pablo are gifted in either. I suspect Sam might be lucky to race AJ Allmendinger for the next fastest open wheeled refugee in NASCAR.
As for Danica? lol...might do something...but I kinda doubt it. I am not a big Danica fan but part of me is almost hoping does ok...

[beachbum]

Sam has shown moments of geing able to run upfront, but Penske is saddled with the Dodges, which aren't competitive. Allmendinger recently made some interesting comments about the Dodges, and look how he has run since moving to Fords. Kurt got the new equipment this year, and even he had trouble running up front for much of the year. Until Penske gets a competitve car, both Sam and Kurt will have their struggles. I think Sam is still learning, but he is better than the results show.

[Lee Roy]

Sam has shown moments of geing able to run upfront, but Penske is saddled with the Dodges, which aren't competitive. Allmendinger recently made some interesting comments about the Dodges, and look how he has run since moving to Fords. Kurt got the new equipment this year, and even he had trouble running up front for much of the year. Until Penske gets a competitve car, both Sam and Kurt will have their struggles. I think Sam is still learning, but he is better than the results show.

Didn't Kurt Busch finish 5th in the points this year? No excuse for Hornish. He's out of his "league". He'll always be a mid-packer in NASCAR.

[The instant classic]

Sam won't go back to IndyCar. He said he'd rather race in Truck than the IRL.

Sam had some good races. He wasn't great, but he improved a lot, honestly. Will he win? Doubt it. He's got to impress this year, though, if he wants to stick around. Penske's got Allgaier waiting, and Kligerman in a few years, so Sam might have to try to open up some more doors. If Kurt Busch does leave at the end of 2010, though, it may just save Sam, as Justin can move to the 2.

Who knows, though? I don't think Hornish is very good, but he's not the worst out there, and he's actually learning.

Driver skill in the IRL? Not going to get involved in that war. All I'll say is that you can't compare. A NASCAR driver could go to the IRL and chances are he or she would struggle. Neither is "harder" to drive; they just require different skills, mindsets, etc. Hornish has to get some credit for actually sticking around to learn it.

thats not such a bad idea, about he rather truck race, maybe he should and get more and more seat time

[ms0362]

Don't see it happeining,,,unless he's out front from a short pitting and the rain comes.

[Jag_Warrior]

No, I don't think so. Outside of a (very) lucky race day, I don't think he has what it takes to win a Cup race anytime soon. But like they say, even a blind squirrel can find a nut every now & again.

[Mark in Oshawa]

thats not such a bad idea, about he rather truck race, maybe he should and get more and more seat time

He has been in Cup long enough that going to Truck or the Nationwide series wont do much.

Sink or swim time for Sam....

[The instant classic]

He has been in Cup long enough that going to Truck or the Nationwide series wont do much.

Sink or swim time for Sam....

i know it took JPM afew years to come around. i hope next year Sam can swim, he was my favorite driver in the IRL..so i hope he can pull off something great in Nascar next year i cant see him in the chase, but even one win would be a great thing to see