Danica 'dead set' on move to F1

I think a good first step in that Direction would be the Acura ALMS ride for AGR of all teams. Do the 12 hr next Feb and see how she does.

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Originally Posted by indycool

I realize there are some on the forum who believe the goal of every race driver on earth is to be in F1. I don't.

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Neither do I. If a driver, especially one with an American racing background, does not express an interest in Formula One, it is quite understandable. It's not on the radar of everyone and isn't everybody's goal. That's perfectly ok.

Likewise, if I driver does express, or has expressed in the past, a desire to do F1, then I don't see why anyone should criticise them for having that ambition.

A racing driver without ambition, be it to win the F1 title, the Borg Warner trophy, the Nextel Cup or just the next race they are in, isn't a racing driver.

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Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior

If Danica is in demand at Honda F1, it is for PR and marketing reasons (IMO). Why else would an F1 team want her? Name me one reason, outside of PR and marketing. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

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As for PR, don't forget that Honda's PR in F1 is run by Simon Fuller, the man who brought us the Spice Girls so it might appear that would be a possibility.

However, just a quick look at Honda's race-team driver choices shows that they are not easily swayed by good-PR. They dropped Sato, the Japanese favourite. If they were concerned about PR over performance, then that would not have happened.

Danica will, I'm sure, get a test in the Honda, but it doesn't mean anything with regards to a full-time seat.

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Originally Posted by tamburello

However, just a quick look at Honda's race-team driver choices shows that they are not easily swayed by good-PR. They dropped Sato, the Japanese favourite. If they were concerned about PR over performance, then that would not have happened.

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Yes, but how much pr-value does Sato have outside Japan?

How much value does the Motegi ICS race have outside Japan? It's a mere "tie" to the homeland on what Honda is doing in racing.

Even Danica qualified it as she'd do it if it was the "real deal" and not just a publicity stunt. Most race drivers would say the same thing. So, somebody got a test. So what?

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Originally Posted by indycool

This is really a bogus discussion because the title of the thread is inaccurate.

1. She said, if you READ her quote, that she was "dead set" on F1 some years back.

2. She said, if you READ the story, that she wanted to win an ICS championship first.

People change. The world changes. Situations change. Except for wanting to live a life of leisure with Julia Roberts on an island in the South Pacific for the rest of my life, I'VE changed.

I realize there are some on the forum who believe the goal of every race driver on earth is to be in F1. I don't.

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I don't believe for a second that there is an actual competitive race car driver on this planet that if presented with an actual serios competitive F1 ride would even think for a second about passing it up regardless of there past current or future goals (or current drive)

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Originally Posted by tamburello

Mansell's 1992 F1 championship-winning Williams FW12B had Active suspension, Traction Control, ABS and semi-automatic gearbox, which needed State-Of-The-Art Computers & Engineers.

As far as "Driver-Aids" went, it had the full-monty.

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It could be said that Mansell's Williams was the most technologically advanced car to ever win the world championship as active ride was banned after that season.

Well, Ken, how about Steve Kinser, John Force, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, guys on hundreds of dirt and paved ovals in this country, drag racers, motorcycle racers.

To each his/her own thing. I would much rather, myself, although I'm not a race driver, take a few laps around Indy than a few laps around Monaco.

Contrary to a perception by largely the road racing community, F1 is not the be-all, end-all for EVERYONE in motorsports.

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Originally Posted by indycool

Well, Ken, how about Steve Kinser, John Force, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, guys on hundreds of dirt and paved ovals in this country, drag racers, motorcycle racers.

To each his/her own thing. I would much rather, myself, although I'm not a race driver, take a few laps around Indy than a few laps around Monaco.

Contrary to a perception by largely the road racing community, F1 is not the be-all, end-all for EVERYONE in motorsports.

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well IC your less a fan of Indycar racing then you are a fan of INDY....so laps around Indy is an emotional response

and it's easy as a fan on a forum to make such a claim...as I have also done..

but ya i'd lump every driver listed in your post and a million more..and still make my claim everyday of the week and twice on race day...

currently a top race winning ride in F1 is the p[innacle of motorsports....take politics sponsors and contracts out of the equation and any and all racers would want to compete at the highest possible level

Ken, they, individually, have to RATE it as the highest possible level. In probably every other country in the world, that's probably so. But in the U.S., IMO, that's just not true.

Afraid we just disagree on that one. I can't speak for every individual race driver, although I feel certain that I could find some who share my viewpoint. On the other hand, your statement refers to ALL. And I just don't think that's true. I believe Jeff Gordon even turned down an F1 test a few years back.