Didn't know Chip was harboring such hate for Jeemy... :s :Quote:
Originally Posted by Scotty G.
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Didn't know Chip was harboring such hate for Jeemy... :s :Quote:
Originally Posted by Scotty G.
I think the IRL has every right to require certain standards of experience from their drivers, but I think they ought to be consistent and establish and publish minimum requirements that don't vary from driver to driver.
Also, I think they ought to follow NASCAR's lead on licenses and have a progressive license. I don't understand why they can't offer a road/street license, a 1 to 2 mile track license and an Indy License or a full license for qualified drivers.
If they had a NASCAR-style license system Simona could run the first four races since no one doubts her road-course skill, test at Kansas, race at Kansas, and if she finishes Kansas and runs in the Freedom 100 she she'd be okay for the race.
Honestly, I don't know why this isn't worked out.
Ask Robin Miller. He knows Chip and he consistantly says this is the case.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
The fact that he has hired 2 (Vasser and Renna) in a decade of AOW, tells the story. And not all of his hires have been "Montoya or Dixon" types of talent either.
Chip wins. Indy Car loses.
You better go back and check your coloring book Scotty as Chip has hired more than 2 Americans since he started back in 1990. Chip Ganassi has hired 8 American drivers since the team started. I might have missed one or two drivers on this list but it complete a list as I have.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scotty G.
1990- Eddie Cheever,
1991- Eddie Cheever,
1992- Arie Luyendyk, Eddie Cheever, Robby Gordon
1993- Arie Luyendyk,
1994-Michael Andretti,Mauricio Gugelmin,
1995-Bryan Herta, Jimmy Vasser,
1996- Alex Zannardi, Jimmy Vasser,
1997- Alex Zannardi, Jimmy Vasser, Arie Luyendyk,
1998- Alex Zannardi, Jimmy Vasser,
1999- Juan Montoya, Jimmy Vasser,
2000- Juan Montoya, Jimmy Vasser,
2001- Bruno Junqueira, Niclous Minassain, Memo Gidley, Tony Stewart, Jimmy Vasser
2002- Bruno Junqueira, Kenny Brack, Scott Dixon, Jeff Ward
2003- Tomas Scheckter, Scott Dixon, Jimmy Vasser, Tony Renna *
2004- Scott Dixon, Darren Manning
2005- Ryan Briscoe, Scott Dixon, Darren Manning
2006- Dan Wheldon, Scott Dixon,
2007- Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon
2008- Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon
2009- Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti
2010- Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti
*Tony Renna is listed in 2003 as he was killed at Indy during a test in 2003.
I think you only missed Richie Hearn.
Nope, missed Jaques Lazier and Giorgio Pantano in 2005.Quote:
Originally Posted by Civic
Scott, I agree with you on most points. I did forget to mention that I do want to see Simona complete a hell of a lot of testing on an oval prior to running an IICS event. I know she isn't ready for ovals yet, but when the old requirement was x miles of oval testing which is doable and understandable.
Of course, HVM didn't want to run 2500 miles on an oval as that costs money, so they tried to compromise to a lower number of miles based on the cases of EJ Viso, Mario Moraes, Milka Duno and a few others, however I believe they were willing to do the 2500 miles according to team member, if it came down to it.
Now the IRL has changed their tune to doing x miles (not sure of the exact number, but it's still alot) plus FIL races which makes no sense, and is not fair IMO.
This is the part I'm upset with.
Of course, if she was going to run ovals in 2010 in a Dallara, I'd expect her to run x number of miles testing on an oval. But to expect her to go above and beyond the normal requirements for whatever reason (possible reasons below) is somewhat rediculous when lesser drivers have been allowed to avoid the full testing requirements in the past.
I figure possible reasons include the following.
- I figure this is the least likely, but the IRL might be protecting Danica a bit here. Given the chance, I think, and probably a bunch of other people think as well, that Simona would probably come into the IRL with much better road course skills. Sure, seeing two women battling for a meaningful position would be a positive, but the IRL has put so much money into Danica, they probably don't want to see a rookie steal her spotlight. I mean, Milka or Sarah aren't really prepared to compete with Danica for a full season.
- They feel she isn't prepared for ovals, which is probably the case. But again, I don't see why she should have to do more then is required to be allowed to race on ovals.
- The last reason, is that she is being punished for driving in Atlantics and choosing that series instead of the IRL feeder FIL. The IRL may be taking a calculated shot at the Atlantic Championship through de Silvestro trying to send a message that Atlantic drivers aren't welcome anymore.
It may be one of the reasons I listed above, or maybe a combination of all of them. But it just doesn't seem right to me.
And Scotty, I don't feel that the inclusion of the Champ Car teams brought down the excitement of the oval races in the IRL. That is more likely a combination of the aerodynamics caused by the new exhaust system on the Dallara, and the domination of Penske and Ganassi.
And in regards to the IRL only accepting Duno and Roth because of low car counts, is the IRL so sure they can afford to turn de Silvestro/another car down for 2010?
Yup, that Chip Ganassi hates Americans!! Heck....other than Sam Hornish, what American going back to Al Jr. has seen a lot of love from Roger Penske either? Last I looked, Paul Tracy is from my part of the world, and between Kiwi's, Australians and Brazilians, Roger hasn't been hiring Americans either.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phoenixent
THe common thread tho is both Chip and Roger like to win, and the guys they have hired for the most part have won races. The fact no Americans since Sam Hornish have been consistent winning threats isn't Chip's fault or Roger's fault, it is a by product of the downfall of the sport, and THAT is from dropping TV ratings, dropping sponsorships, and a general decrease in interest in the IRL and in CART from yes....that split.
American drivers of sufficient charimsa and talent are not pushing towards the IRL. Ryan Hunter-Reay, Danica Patrick, Graham Rahal, and Marco Andretti are all American drivers, but not one of the four has proven they can win at this level on any consistent basis. If anything, if you put them in a room with Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman; and were asked to select 4 drivers to take to drive Indycars on an oval tomorrow, you would be nuts to not take the NASCAR 4 even with 3 of those guys never having SAT in an Indycar. They went to NASCAR like Jeff Gordon because that is where the money is, and THAT series races 36 plus weekends a year. They want to race. What is more, they all have sprint/midget experience, and THAT leads guys to go to cars where the engine is up front. The SCCA/USAC ff2000 level of racing is the only place where you get on the bottom rung of ow racing that leads to an Atlantic or Indy Light.
When Tony started the IRL, he never understood the rungs on the ladder have to be there for drivers to climb up to Indycar. He just saw all the "furrniners" and vowed it was wrong. If he had taken the IRL to a "roadster" for the modern age, I suspect a few of the guys who went to NASCAR might have gone to the IRL.....
I think testing and proving you can handle an aspect of racing you're not used to should be required no matter what. But, they have to put those parameters up there so they are the same for everybody, year in and year out. I don't think Danica had more than 1 or 2 ovals in an Atlantic car before she was put in over her head with RLR. She was no different than people like Doornbos, Moraes, Viso, etc. while they were becoming familiar. Why should it be any different for anybody else? Just put a standard in place and that is the end of it I would think?
Thanks for the info on these two drivers. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by gofastandwynn