The first 2011 Silly Season driver/team thread

De Ferran couldn't raise sponsorship to start his own team as planned, so he partnered with Luczo.

Even with HP and Hamilton's Kingdom backing, they couldn't have been very well funded...Davey missed Texas when both cars were wrecked at Indy,and the team could only get one back on track for the following weekend.

Pagenaud, Briscoe, and TK do not have checks. TK likely has the best shot, and would be a perfect fit with Apex and De Ferran. If they run two cars , it would only be thanks to someone who is very well funded.

If Viso isn't running, hows come he was at Dallara for a fitting? There are plenty of other drivers as small in size...Marco was just in Italy last week.

AA is testing at Barber tomorrow, and somebody might be running at Sebring right now alongside the Lights testing. A bisquet on T* said that Hildebrand was testing for Panther today...they have pre-season data from Sebring, so that would make sense. Cars are on track, Sebring wouldn't say who.

De Ferran said on Trackside that Rafa was still in conversation...so I guess some pictures are being left fuzzy by intention, and others snapped too soon.

I'd say "indelicate" is a good word for today.

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Originally Posted by MDS

Just a few things...

Andretti is close to singing a two year deal for Ryan's sponsorship. I've heard its one of their existing sponsors who is stepping up to a primary role, so hopefully it will be a Dr Pepper/Snapple car.

I'm also hearing that Takuma Sato is set with KV and Lotus for next year. Don't be surprised if the Panasonic logo moves from NHR to his car next year. He's still popular in Japan and Honda wants him in the series.

Also heard that Rafa has been told he is no longer associated with de Ferran/Dragon.

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RHR should be in the AFS car, not sure about DR.P/Snapple.

Sato and Mutoh looking to buy seats at Renta Team, so Panasonic makes sense.

Rafa was told he was done after Homestead. SP unless they go for TK.

Many of the pieces are starting to come together...

Andretti- Marco in the #26, Patrick in the #7 and RHR in the #37

Ganassi- Franchitti in the #10, Dixon in the #9 and Rahal (I am thinking in the #42).

Panther- Hildebrand in the National Guard #4 and Wilson in the Z-Line Designs #2

Deferren/Dragon- Kanaan in the TBA #11 and Hamilton (for 3-5 oval races) in the HP #21.

KV- Sato in the Lotus #5


Other wild possibilities....

-Robby Gordon running a car out of the Andretti stable (and it being a Gordon/Andretti joint deal) at Indy. He and his brother-and-law will be teammates.

-Ed Carpenter doing the oval schedule for KV Racing or Dreyer and Reinbold Racing. Number will stay #20.

-Richard Petty Motorsports actively looking at putting some sort of Indy Car program together. Ray Evernham could be involved as could Allmendinger.

Why would Z-Line move to Panther, and possibly bring Wilson along for the ride, instead of other choices?

I read the Richard Petty rumor too, and maybe people should step back and think about that for a minute. Some think that Nascar is an evil empire, determined to step on the neck of IndyCar. Maybe, maybe not.

There are very few developments that would make noise to the general public. "Richard Petty Motorsports leaves Nascar to go IndyCar racing" would qualify. Nascar wouldn't do anything possible to prevent that? Any kind of a deal they could broker would be done to avoid that headline.

If RPM survives, it will be in Nascar and the possible affiliation with JA at the 500. Running a full IndyCar season is pure imagination.

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Originally Posted by Enjun Pullr

1. Why would Z-Line move to Panther, and possibly bring Wilson along for the ride, instead of other choices?

2. If RPM survives, it will be in Nascar and the possible affiliation with JA at the 500. Running a full IndyCar season is pure imagination.

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1. Good question. Z-Line is going to go with Wilson, wherever he goes. Hildebrand hasn't been meeting with the National Guard and isn't testing with Panther this week, for no reason. He fits exactly what the Guard would want (they also were interested in Americans RHR and Rahal). And it makes sense for Panther to take a flyer on a young American (like they did with Hornish).

Andretti's team and KV would also make sense for Wilson. But Panther and Wilson have been flirting for months. He would give them a experienced driver to team with a youngster in Hildebrand. If Panther has come up with a few bucks of their own, the Z-Line money would give Wilson a strong fully-funded ride and only 1 other teammate. At Andretti, things aren't all that rosy there now or for the future, once Patrick bails for NASCAR. And they seem more concerned with Hunter-Reay and Marco's future programs. Wilson could be the 4th wheel there (and actually be the best driver). Plus Andretti might be asking for more dough then Z-Line can give. Same deal with KV and KV isn't as good a team as either Andretti or Panther. Wilson would be better off staying with D&R then going to KV.


2. You very well might be correct. But lets connect the dots.

-Petty's team is now basically owned by George Gillette. Petty is a figure-head. And Gillette has very little history with NASCAR or stock car racing.

-RPM has one sponsor and one driver signed for 2011. The driver, is a former Indy Car driver.

-Ray Evernham was quoted on Indy radio months ago, as saying he was "intrigued" by being a part of a Indy Car effort and had been approached about doing something in 2011.

-RPM is having financial problems. And right now, Indy Cars are much, much cheaper to run then Cup is. If they want to stay in business (and these are all BUSINESS's), Indy Cars might just have to be an option.


It would not surprise me at all, if RPM (at the least) runs the Indy 500 next year with Allmendinger and John Andretti as its 2 drivers. I'd be shocked if they did anything more then that, but you never know....its EXTREME silly season.

From the public information available last year, and most of it was from Cavin, here's the way I remember it:

Z-Line was a sponsor for Dale Coyne Racing, and both were satisfied with Wilson as their driver.

Bill Pappas left Coyne for KV, it was unclear whether this was a concern for the sponsor or driver at the time.

Coyne announced the Boy Scouts endorsement (unfunded) and the intention to run two cars, but lacked money for the second car..this was long before Milka and Citgo were on the radar.

Z-Line was concerned about sharing branding: they were a primary sponsor and expected to run their car that way. So they went shopping, and chose D&R.

Wilson was then offered the seat, since he was acceptable to team and sponsor. Coyne was trying to sign a driver for a two year deal.

So it's not clear that Wilson is under contract with Z-Line, and they are shopping again. Where is the best shot to field a competitive car and get top billing?

I'd say Newman/ Haas. Sure, Wilson probably stays with Z-Line but I don't think it is carved in stone. Z-Line's other choice would be to continue at D&R.

AA has three cars locked in (unless IMG convinces Danica to buyout and bolt). A fourth car there is not necessarily a competitive or prominent choice for a primary sponsor to select.

Can Panther run two competitive cars for a full season, even if Z-Line pays for the second car? If you say so, but I'd be wondering. They remain as the National Guard car and the part time Fuzzy Vision team, in my fuzzy vision.

Whatever seat, I hope Hildebrand gets one. And I hope Dale Coyne lands a deal, because I doubt the Series is going to grant Duno a license.

Mr. Gillette I know nothing about, but as for him funding an Indycar team for RPM...well, I'd only believe that when the car is on the grid.

I find it a travesty that John Edwards, JR Hildebrand, Jonathan Summerton were sitting on the sidelines last season. Ignoring young American drivers who were successful in junior formulae is, in my opinion, one of the reasons IndyCar is where it is today. I'd be happy if Hildebrand found himself in the National Guard car. Even happier if Panther could run Carpenter on the ovals again with Fuzzy to coach JR. Wheldon should find himself a ride too, maybe the 2nd Lotus seat?

Regarding, RPM leaving NASCAR and moving to IndyCar: not a snowball's chance in hell. The France Family Cartel/Mafia will move mountains to keep that from happening, including (but not limited to) reaching for the family checkbook. There is no way they will ever let the Petty name leave the series and go to another. There MIGHT be a presence in both, but I'd be VERY surprised if that ever came to fruition.

Gary

two things:

I believe still that Go Daddy's girl will blow out to Nascab full time next year and that Andretti racing will be luck to field 2 cars.

Richard Petty Motorsports is almost OUT OF BUSINESS!!! Bud failed to send final sponsorship payment check, Gillette's interests have been taken over by the lender as he defaulted... SO PLEASE STOP foolish rumors of Petty to Indy" !!!

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Originally Posted by SoCalPVguy

SO PLEASE STOP foolish rumors of Petty to Indy" !!!

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Yep, zero chance of this happening outside of DR&R or someone else for Indy one-off in 2011.

The team is still talking with Best Buy about sponsoring A.J. Allmendinger in 2011 but they haven't come to terms yet. What might be driving some of this is that Best Buy's spend on the RPM team is rumored to be around $6 million which won't get you a full season NASCAR, but could get you 12 races with a top team, or a full season in Indy. Stanley Tools is signed for 2011 at around $10 million. Yeah, on paper you can make an argument that Best Buy and Stanley Tools (If they cut their total buy down to $6 million or kept at $10 and had two cars) could be better served with A.J. and another talented driver (of which there is no short supply) in open wheel but its too late really to finish the NASCAR season and then spin up for a full season in 2011 and then buy new equipment for 2012. They will be lucky to answer the bell in 2011.

Some people insist the team is considering it for 2012, but I can't see how it has gone past the exploratory phase at this point seeing how no one is sure if the team will finish out the season. Now could Richard Petty see the end of the Petty name in NASCAR and decide to start something new in Indy Car in 2012? Buy out Newman Haas and bring some NASCAR sponsors? Maybe. He has the money to do it, but does he have the will and drive? That's another question. He's 73.

Also moving to the ICS wouldn't "Save" most of the team. RPM has 340 employees, many of whom wouldn't have skills or experience that would transfer to open wheel. With a potential $12-$10 million sponsor you could carry a lot of people, but most NASCAR tech experience wouldn't translate to open wheel, althought most of their physical plant, which includes a seven-post shaker rig, would.

What RPM's failure will do is increase the chance of a cup driver ending up in the ICS. At best that's two less funded seats out their for cup drivers, and potentially four if the whole team goes under. The harder it is to get a non-start-and-park ride the better the chances are that someone like a Scott Speed would come to Indy.