110 days ( or so ) until the season finale and the $5 million challenge....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SarahFan

He's qualified..... Make no mistake I'm not suggesting strap him race weekend send him out .... But with a proper test prior to the event he will be just fine

---

Ken, on this, I strongly disagree with you. The whole point of this promotion was to get some drivers from other disciplines of auto racing. If it's down to getting guys like Stewart to fill the spots, then abandon the the promotion. Or ease the restrictions on who can compete. I don't care if he has a test session or two, he is not qualified to enter a race where the competitors are wheel to wheel at over 200 mph. His discipline and IndyCar's discipline of racing have as much to do with each other as baseball and football. Both use a ball, but after that.....

Just because this promotional idea hasn't generated the interest in the drivers they were hoping to interest, ie Nascar, doesn't mean it's time to stick anyone with a name in there. At the very least, they should have respect for the regular drivers of the series to not stick amateurs out there with them a high speed oval. This has a real chance of turning out very badly and desperation for higher TV ratings would be a very weak excuse.

I have to agree with DBell - some of these motorcycle guys might have great potential in IndyCar - but it seems a bit of a stretch to throw them into the race with minimal preparation and expect them to compete safely..... You need to have someone with at least a little oval experience I would think (and if you get to allowing them to race too much in Indycar before the "big race" it sort of defeats the purpose of the challenge....

I think there is a good chance we will see Kimi Raikkonen in the race - his recent forays into NASCAR should round out his experience nicely... The timing stinks - they are going to have a hard time getting any active F-1 or NASCAR drivers (I am pretty sure this whole thing was designed to snag Montoya and maybe Mark Webber)... I suppose Hornish could take a shot at it - although that hardly seems beneficial to Indycar... Scott Speed would fit the bill - depends if he really is a ****er or if he was just playing one at Indy to get some seat time.... Once you get to the sports car guys the promotional value falls off quickly..... The motorcycle guys make the whole thing seem desperate....

Baseball and football

Bo Jackson comes to mind

Any idea how many test sessions jeff ward had before his first race?

Chris... James Stewart is just the type of guy that Randy SHOULD be going after ..... A qualifies racer from a different discipline with an established yet separate fan base that will tune in to watch


Behind zanardi he is my second choice

If Alex could race in a specialy modified car, well, I'm sure that there would be many tears in our eyes. Didn't Chip say he would field a car if Alex wanted to do it?

So, if I get this right, the regulars are ineligible for the 5 million? They get standard prize money if they win and lose out on 5 million and get to look like chopped liver if some newbie outsider wins?

"Look Ma, anybody can do this!"

If I'm Tagliani and Stewart or some other invitee is running second, I'd be working a deal pretty damn quick if I can set my ego aside! That's a huge chunk o'cash to pass up on in this series. Makes the Indy 500 look like a door prize.

Is Villeneuve waiting by his phone? Picabo Street should be. I can't see anyone with serious open wheel cred getting an invite with the exception Zanardi. I'd like to see that.

James Stewart is as well known as you can get in Motocross, and his celebrity goes beyond that sport. I agree that he will be a valuable contribution to the field in Vegas, and I agree with the others that he needs to get some serious practice time prior to entry in the event.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NickFalzone

James Stewart is as well known as you can get in Motocross, and his celebrity goes beyond that sport. I agree that he will be a valuable contribution to the field in Vegas, and I agree with the others that he needs to get some serious practice time prior to entry in the event.

---

Practice running in a pack?

Hadn't thought about Zanardi...that could be something pretty special.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SarahFan

Baseball and football

Bo Jackson comes to mind

Any idea how many test sessions jeff ward had before his first race?

---

But Bo didn't go into MLB without having played the game before. I have no problem with Bubba if he had a couple of test sessions and a couple of Indy lights races to get ready and prove he could do this competently