Danica 'dead set' on move to F1

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by indycool

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.

---

If Williams and Hendrick cam to J Gordaon and told them they had struck a deal for Jeff to pilot the F1 car for the 2009 season and his salary and Nascar seat was gauranteed for 2010 I'd bety he and any and all other race cars drivers would jump at the chance

And I bet he would not. And I bet THEY ALL would not. As I said, we just disagree completely.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BobGarage

2nd at detroit last year.
although that was when everyone else in front of her crashed out in the last few laps.

---

And she had been secretly given the power-steering system now installed on all IRL cars. I'm still amazed that that was legal - I guess the IRL ruleset must have a special Danica section.

Like other posters, I find the thought of Danica in F1 hilarious. She'll get the usual token test drive with Honda (probably with unpublished laptimes to avoid embrasssment) - just basic boilerplate PR provided by Honda Corp to promulgate the fiction that IRL drivers could actually be F1 contenders.

I wonder - does Danica really believe her own PR hype? Does she actually believe that she could finish in the top 75% of a GP2 race, let alone F1? Perhaps, to maintain her own self-respect, she has to believe that it's her mad skillz, not the swimsuit photospreads, that got her where she is today.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Komahawk

Bourdais was never in GP2. F1 had plenty publicity stunt drivers, most recently Scott Speed who was advertised as "obviously the best American driver out there". It could be argued that several current F1 drivers got their ride through connections rather than performance.
Marco and Graham are stronger on road circuits than Danica, but if Danica should happen to win the '500 and HondaF1 drop Barrichello then she's a realistic candidate.

---

Unlike DP, Scott Speed has the track record to justify his F1 drive. He absolutely dominated the US shifter kart championships for several years, won several Star Mazda races in his first season (would probably have won the championship if he'd run all the races), easily made it through the Red Bull driver search selection eliminations, which got him a ride in Europe.

He won 2 championships (Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup, German Formula Renault), and finished 3rd in the GP2 championship behind Rosberg and Kovaleinen. His F1 career was unremarkable, but certainly not an embarassment. He performed adequately with a mediocre team, and I suspect that his eventual departure had more to do with his abrasive personality, and the consequent and public estrangement from the equally abrasive Gerhard Berger, than lack of ability. I don't think he was good enough to be a contender for the F1 crown, but he displayed at least average competence by F1 standards.

Contrast that with DP, who has never won a road-race in any series other than local, junior karting when she was 15 years old. She has one oval win, but unfortunately for her, small drivers don't get a weight advantage outside the IRL, so even an oval victory is unlikely to be available to her in any other series.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Starter

Perhaps you're reading too much into this. I have no pretensions that I'd ever be competitive in an F1 car. Should someone offer me a test drive though, I will guarantee you I will NOT be turning it down. :D

---

For me it would depend on who is paying for the insurance on the car!!! ;)

Gary

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by indycool

Key word in her statements is "had," from which she was talking several years ago. People change, desires change, situations change. About the only thing I can think of that's the same for me from several years ago is that I'm still in love with Julia Roberts.

---

I think the point of this discussion is not had or have, but the fact that DP and her PR flacks are holding out the idea of F1 as a future option once she's achieved her Indycar goals. Nowhere in any of that is a remotely realistic assessment of the chances of F1 wanting Danica.

Bascially, her very lucrative marketing career might be damaged were she to say she's staying in the IRL because she hasn't a hope in hell of getting an F1 offer, so she has to present it as though it's she who's not interested in F1, rather than the reverse.

Personally, I find that less honest and less admirable than if she were still "dead set" on F1.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Komahawk

Except for Indycool's post it's just the latest in a long line of "Let's bash Danica" threads.

As far as F1 being the top series, I'd like to see Alonso or Raikkonnen qualifying and finishing fourth at Indy in their first attempt. But, oops, I forgot. They don't have the ***** to compete there.

---

Are you seriously suggesting DP is a better driver than Alsonso or Raikonen?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by indycool

Dex, I think you see it because F1 isn't as popular in the U.S. as it is in other countries because you have many more choices for sports (and racing) entertainment in the U.S. than any other country. It's respected, but it's "something over there."

---

Actually, you have many fewer choices for motor racing entertainment in the US than in Europe, especially on TV. The reason F1 (like soccer) isn't as popular in the US is because of Americocentrism, the insular (and isolated) nature of American culture.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Komahawk

On another note, I still don't get it why someone would even want to run in a series which not even remotely has an even playing field. Is it really that much fun to get lapped every race, just because your car has less horsepower and worse aerodynamics than the others?.

---

True - after all, nobody gets lapped in the IRL. And all those teams who've been in contention for the championship ... lets see, how many was it ... oh that's right, three.

Or, if you count Toyota's last year, one. Or the year after that, two.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skyh

Actually, you have many fewer choices for motor racing entertainment in the US than in Europe, especially on TV. The reason F1 (like soccer) isn't as popular in the US is because of Americocentrism, the insular (and isolated) nature of American culture.

---

Funny that we're always wrong because we don't like the same things as europeans do. God forbid anybody be allowed a thought that doesn't originate there.