Title: Champ Car for the 500?
stradlin22 - March 1, 2007 12:33 PM (GMT)
the option is now open to them
the most likley driver to take part would be Graham Rahal, who would be given a seat by Rahal-Letterman obviously
but could you see Newman-Haas wanting to take part again?
http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/35685/ Norbert - March 1, 2007 02:23 PM (GMT)
I seem to remember the last time that non-IRL drivers took part, they piddled all over the series regulars.... are they sure they want that to happen again?
stradlin22 - March 1, 2007 03:24 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Norbert @ Mar 1 2007, 02:23 PM) |
| I seem to remember the last time that non-IRL drivers took part, they piddled all over the series regulars.... are they sure they want that to happen again? |
Yes, but those drivers that piddled on the IRL regulars actually now race in the IRL (with the exception of JPM, but his team Ganassi are now in the IRL)
They didn’t piddle over all the drivers, in 2000 when JPM won, Buddy Lazier drove a great race to finish second for a team on a fraction of the budget of Ganassi and picked up the award for best performance on the day
Newman-Haas raced in 2005 and Junquiera had a decent qualifying run and was in the top 10 in the race but was injured in a crash involving the mighty AJ Foyt IV
Bourdais didn’t have as good pace but due to a high attrition rate he was running 8th before he crashed into the wall all by himself
So Newman-Haas lost both cars and had a driver injured the last time they competed in the 500
I think its highly unlikely they will take part this season, although I hope I am wrong
Norbert - March 1, 2007 03:32 PM (GMT)
I thought that in the year JPM won, that CART and NASCAR drivers filled the top four/five places....? Seem to remember Tony Stewart and Jimmy Vasser being on or near the podium....
stradlin22 - March 1, 2007 03:32 PM (GMT)
I also seem to recall that Newman-Haas sold its IRL equipment to Team Leader Motorsports who ran PJ Jones and Stephen Gregoire at Indy last season
stradlin22 - March 1, 2007 03:33 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Norbert @ Mar 1 2007, 03:32 PM) |
| I thought that in the year JPM won, that CART and NASCAR drivers filled the top four/five places....? Seem to remember Tony Stewart and Jimmy Vasser being on or near the podium.... |
2001 was the year that was totally dominated by CART drivers
Helio won
thats the year you mean
Norbert - March 1, 2007 03:41 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (stradlin22 @ Mar 1 2007, 03:33 PM) |
2001 was the year that was totally dominated by CART drivers
Helio won
thats the year you mean |
Ah, spiderman rules ok.... lol
Seen/got so many I've forgotten the years!!
stradlin22 - March 1, 2007 06:00 PM (GMT)
one of the IRL regulars was running in the top 5 most of the day but was let down by bad pit work (i think it was Airton Dare)
other then that, it was a pretty poor showing by IRL teams
of all the teams that run in the IRL now, only really Panther are the only survivors from the early 00's
Cheever, Ray (Access Motorsports), Hemelgarn, Kelley Racing, Team Menard and so on have either taken time out to look for sponsors or shut down completely