The first 2011 Silly Season driver/team thread

[Otto-Matic]

Still a lot to sort out. Only thing for certain is that Jay Howard will not ever return to SFR in any capacity.

Scotty, just out of curiosity what is it about Jay Howard that people dont like?
i've seen you post some things before about how he is very unpopular in the paddock and that it comes from his off the track actions, can you shed any light on this? Did it have anything to do w/ his situation at Roth in '08?
all we see if the PR stuff that makes him look like a great guy.

[NiekJ]

A couple of months ago Junior Strous told on dutch television that he will drive for HVM next season. The plan was to drive the road courses on the second half of the season this year, that was until SDS destroyed a car. I haven't heard anything about it since then. But I guess it is still on?

[EagleEye]

OK, so which one of you who is so certain of their "facts" has anything to back up their assertions?

Gary

Here are the Facts:

-TG provided funding to start Vision Racing for Ed. Prior to that, TG provided funding to Cheever when Ed raced there.

-TG provided funding for Ed to be in a car last year.

-TG was "shopping Ed" to various teams, which included funding.

How much of the TG's funding was offest by money they raised (Fuzzy's vodka, etc.)? I do not know.

I would be shocked that they would shop him around with the promise of funding, only to pull that back with SFR. SFR required additional funding to move forward....

If you review some of the reports from motorsports writers on those who were paid to drive last year, Ed was not listed.

Ed is an extremely nice person. He has done well, at times. He does not thrash equipment, and he is an American. But, like Marco, he is driving because of those who are backing him finanically (his family).

[MDS]

It's not like Sarah Fisher had a bevy of drivers to choose from. Yes a number of drivers talked with them but only as a "Safety" team. Sarah Fisher racing is like that local college you apply to in case everything else fails. J.R. Hildebrand and J.K. Vernay did not consider SFR their first choice, or probably even their second choice.

Ed may or may not have brought money to the table but he was the only driver willing to commit before the New Year. I don't know for a fact by Dollar General probably wanted a deal done by a certain date and if they waited for another driver to come available they might have lost Dollar General. Even if he brought money signing an early deal allows them time to find more money for more races.

[Scotty G.]

Here are the Facts:

-TG provided funding to start Vision Racing for Ed. Prior to that, TG provided funding to Cheever when Ed raced there.

-TG provided funding for Ed to be in a car last year.

-TG was "shopping Ed" to various teams, which included funding.

How much of the TG's funding was offest by money they raised (Fuzzy's vodka, etc.)? I do not know.

I would be shocked that they would shop him around with the promise of funding, only to pull that back with SFR. SFR required additional funding to move forward....

If you review some of the reports from motorsports writers on those who were paid to drive last year, Ed was not listed.

Ed is an extremely nice person. He has done well, at times. He does not thrash equipment, and he is an American. But, like Marco, he is driving because of those who are backing him finanically (his family).

Most of that might be true.

But SFR had a 9 race deal with DG in 2010 (with Sarah driving) and SFR has a 9 race deal with DG in 2011 with Ed driving.

He is not bringing any substantial money (if any money at all) to this DG portion of the deal. If more races are added, then he would likely have to.

[Scotty G.]

J.R. Hildebrand and J.K. Vernay did not consider SFR their first choice, or probably even their second choice.

SFR and DG had ZERO interest in JK Vernay. And why would they? He was lost last year on ovals in Lights. And SFR cares about oval racing.

Plus DG wouldn't want a French driver anyway. They want American drivers.

[Scotty G.]

Scotty, just out of curiosity what is it about Jay Howard that people dont like?
i've seen you post some things before about how he is very unpopular in the paddock and that it comes from his off the track actions, can you shed any light on this? Did it have anything to do w/ his situation at Roth in '08?
all we see if the PR stuff that makes him look like a great guy.

Can't comment on what happened with Roth, but lets just say Jay made no friends with SFR last year.

Not sure who was at fault, but they were as glad to see him go away and his few race deal end, as he likely was happy to leave them.

Just a real bad marriage between ride-buyer driver and race team.

[Chamoo]

Robin Miller says JR Hildebrand to be confirmed tomorrow, and Rahal+Kimball to be confirmed Thursday.

[EagleEye]

Bold is set-

Andretti Autosport
Marco
Danica
RHR

No word on who will fund RHR, but the Snapple/Dr. Pepper rumors are not correct. They were tied into the 7/11, and the hope is they might still might be primary for some races.


Penske Racing/Team Penske Racing
Power
HCN
Briscoe


Target Chip Ganassi
Dixon
Dario

Ganassi/Prudhomme Racing
Rahal
Kimbal

Should be announced soon. Team coming together, and looks like all the funding is in place. Shop is in Brownsburg, about 20-30 minutes from the Ganassi shop. Good staff being put together. Kimbal looks set for a full time ride, but we'll see how things are on Thursday. I met Charlie early in his karting career, and later when he was racing F2000 at Road America. I have always been impressed with him, on and off the track, and I hope the funding comes together.

A.J. Foyt Enterprises
Vitor

KVRT
Sato
Viso
Ride buyer ~3

KV Renta Team-Mutoh trying to get money togerther, Viso seems to have some funding as well. Viso's funding is coming along, and might trump Mutoh. Mutoh could be here, or DR or gone. Some peg TK here, but the team has not paid a driver since they had Power.

Panther
JR Hildebrand

MDS was one of the first to place JR here. They were looking for an American and it looks like they have a good one. I have never met him, but look forward to having him in the series.

de Ferran Dragon Racing
TK

Money is an issue- TK would be in, save for his current salary demands, which he deserves. TK wants $3 million, but may have to take a pay cut. The music is still playing, but not many rides remain.

HVM
SDS

Money a big issue here.

Conquest
Bag
TBD

Money is also an issue here. Look for two paying drivers.

FAZZT
Tagliani
Tung

Newman Hass
Servia
Hinch

Team testing Servia and Hinch, and is working on funding for both drivers in 2011.

Dreyer and Reinbold Racing
Wilson
Conway
TBD 2

Wheldon might be considered if he has some funding.

Sarah Fisher Racing
Carpenter

Money brought in from TG.

Dale Coyne Racing
Ride buyer 1
Ride buyer 2/?

Viso or Mutoh could end up here as well.

[MDS]

Seriously this is the best silly season in almost a decade. Other than the litany of announcements everything should be wrapped up by Mid January when the NHR and Hinchcliffe deal should be announced. The hold up is the broadcast schedule announcement. Last year was Dec. 1 last year and from what I hear this year's schedule won't be announced until after the NBC/Comcast merger, read into that what you will. Supposedly the Canadian sponsor is waiting on the TV package and the second car's sponsorship is waiting on the Canadian deal to be signed.

I don't expect to see announcements from KVRT and Coyne until testing while Conquest and HVM will probably keep their same drivers as last year.

The free agent market is ratcheting up as the seats start to dwindle. Alex Lloyd, Pippa Mann, Oriol Servia, Tomas Sheckter, Tony Kannan, Dan Wheldon Adam Carroll, Paul Tracy are fight for rides with some new names Fairuz Fauzy (Potentially at KV in a 4th car) and Andy Soueck. Also there are probably three or four deals with drivers and teams lined up and are waiting on sponsorship.