A fine turn of events this is...

[Hoop-98]

:)

With NASCAR tight on funds, drivers*like Bryan Clauson*are trying IndyCar - Brant James - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/brant_james/07/28/nascar.exodus.indycar/index.html?sct=rc_wr_a1)

Whom would of thunk it!

[nigelred5]

ride Buy money may actually go further in Indycar these days. A lot of ther NASCAR teams have one hell of a lot of overhead running the facilities even some of the small teams have and ride buys have gotten pretty pricey.

[Wilf]

:)

With NASCAR tight on funds, drivers*like Bryan Clauson*are trying IndyCar - Brant James - SI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/brant_james/07/28/nascar.exodus.indycar/index.html?sct=rc_wr_a1)

Whom would of thunk it!

Was it Woodward or Bernstein who said: "Follow the money."?

I keep waiting for JJ Yeley to come back after he ran away from some serious opportunities.

[anthonyvop]

ride Buy money may actually go further in Indycar these days. A lot of ther NASCAR teams have one hell of a lot of overhead running the facilities even some of the small teams have and ride buys have gotten pretty pricey.


If you read the article you will see that just by starting and parking a team can make $6,000 to $8,000 a race. That come out to at least a cool Quarter Million of profit a season.....How is that less financially attractive than Paying for an Indy Car seat doesn't make any sense.

Back in the day many complained that CART was full of F-1 rejects. I see no benefit for the ICS in become the dumping ground for NASCAR wannabees.

[Andrewmcm]

Presumably it's because there is no guarantee of making the field in NASCAR? If there are more than 43 cars then if you don't make it in, you don't start and park. I'd imagine that anyone who shows sufficient speed (or in Milka's case, not even that) will make the field.

[Marbles]

Presumably it's because there is no guarantee of making the field in NASCAR? If there are more than 43 cars then if you don't make it in, you don't start and park.

A 43 car field isn't as big as it sounds when you realize 35 spots are pretty much reserved for series regulars.

From reading the article I can't help but wonder if Indycar has got the grassroots covered. Do they have anybody covering kart or dirt tracks? At least have someone there handing out fridge magnets or something.

[Lee Roy]

A 43 car field isn't as big as it sounds when you realize 35 spots are pretty much reserved for series regulars.


Those 35 spots are for the top 35 in owners points. They aren't "reserved".

[nigelred5]

If you read the article you will see that just by starting and parking a team can make $6,000 to $8,000 a race. That come out to at least a cool Quarter Million of profit a season.....How is that less financially attractive than Paying for an Indy Car seat doesn't make any sense.

Back in the day many complained that CART was full of F-1 rejects. I see no benefit for the ICS in become the dumping ground for NASCAR wannabees.

$6 to 8K a race profit? How much does it cost to get a team to the track and in the race? Hell, for $250K, why doesn't everyone just pick up a truck, lease an engine, pay a couple couple buddies beer money and get in the field in the truck series.?

My comment was more about the DRIVERS money going further, but yeah, I'm very familiar with start and park teams. The price of entry for a ride buyer for an actual RACE may actually be higher and harder to find in Trucks these days, especially with the number of available rides dwindling. There aren't a whole lot of 4 car teams around these days at any level in NASCAR, so even some pretty accomplished drivers are having to compete for rides.

[garyshell]

Those 35 spots are for the top 35 in owners points. They aren't "reserved".

Reads like a difference without a distinction to me.

Gary

[Lee Roy]

Reads like a difference without a distinction to me.

Gary

Sam Hornish understands the difference.

[nigelred5]

Sam Hornish understands the difference.

LOL.

I'd rather be in the top 24 of Indycar points as a driver. ;)

[Chris R]

So what do you suppose is up with Sam anyway?? I watched the Windtunnel interview this week and I just don't get him.... His reason for going to NASCAR makes a bit of sense on the surface (new challenge) - but let's face it - he hasn't exactly set the world on fire in the tin tops and does not look to be any time soon.... Sure, he was weak on road courses in the IRL but he was not THAT bad - I would venture to say that he would be doing better than Helio or Briscoe in a Penske Indycar right now which is way better thna he ever did in NASCAR.... I see why Dario went and tried and quickly came to the understanding the grass was not greener on the other side and he pretty quickly swallowed his pride and came back (better than ever I might add) - kudos to him..... It would be nice if Sam came to the same realization - he could be a real asset to the Indycar series and he could still carve out a really good Indycar career......

[00steven]

So what do you suppose is up with Sam anyway?? I watched the Windtunnel interview this week and I just don't get him.... His reason for going to NASCAR makes a bit of sense on the surface (new challenge) - but let's face it - he hasn't exactly set the world on fire in the tin tops and does not look to be any time soon.... Sure, he was weak on road courses in the IRL but he was not THAT bad - I would venture to say that he would be doing better than Helio or Briscoe in a Penske Indycar right now which is way better thna he ever did in NASCAR.... I see why Dario went and tried and quickly came to the understanding the grass was not greener on the other side and he pretty quickly swallowed his pride and came back (better than ever I might add) - kudos to him..... It would be nice if Sam came to the same realization - he could be a real asset to the Indycar series and he could still carve out a really good Indycar career......

That's why I don't care for Sam much. He acts like Indycar and the Indy 500 are beneath him and that really makes me mad.
And as for wanting a challenge, how about coming back to Indycar? I bet it would be a challenge to beat Franchitti, Power, Dixon and the rest especially on a road course.

[heliocastroneves#3]

Well, he's already been in NASCAR way too long. He already has been a victim of the "wrecking virus" like all NASCAR drivers are having. Please NASCAR drivers stay in NASCAR in IndyCar we (at least I want :D ) want racing instead of wrecking!

I even don't understand why NASCAR was supposed to be challenge for him.... Surely he was disappointed that he as the reigning champion in 2007 just couldn't finish higher then 5th in the standings with only some front row starts (no poles) and only one win in IndyCar?

[Lee Roy]

Please NASCAR drivers stay in NASCAR in IndyCar we (at least I want :D ) want racing instead of wrecking!

That's right, there's no wrecking in IndyCar. :rolleyes:

AUTO RACING - INDYCAR: Series Puts Crashers On Probation (http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-series-puts-crashers-on-probation/)

[00steven]

That's right, there's no wrecking in IndyCar. :rolleyes:

AUTO RACING - INDYCAR: Series Puts Crashers On Probation (http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-series-puts-crashers-on-probation/)

Looks like you've ventured to the Indycar page to bash...how nice.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Hornish is in NASCAR because he can still get paid to be a racer. In Indycar, he has to prostitute himself likely now to get money to race. Herein lies the difference. Same reason AJ Allmendinger aint coming back too....getting paid big bucks to run mid pack in CUP beats killing yourself to get a top 10 in Indycar for less dough.

I love both forms of racing, but from a business perspective as a driver, NASCAR is a much bigger paycheck. It is a challenge as well. Hornish wouldn't be as competitve in Indycars as he was, so if he is going to struggle to stay mid pack, better to do it over in NASCAR land. Now I will admit, he probably didn't dream he would be fighting to stay in Nationwide, but I guess he just likes the challenge.

All power to him...he doesn't have to prove anything to me. He was a great Indycar champ on the ovals, I know he isn't as good on the road courses but he drove for Penske. Roger doesn't hire stiffs for his Indycars....

[FormerFF]

My personal opinion is that he is yet another driver walking down the far side of that hill. (See previous comments about PT.) He wasn't all that good in his prime either. Certainly not one of the best shoes Roger has ever employed.

I have to disagree with you, at least on the ovals. There were a couple of races where he took everyone to school. He was fairly hopeless on road/street courses, though. Where he is in his career path I can't comment on as I don't follow NASCAR at all.