Comments on: Youth and experience: the leading candidates for USF1’s seats in 2010

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:51:47 +0000

Scott Speed shouldn’t be counted out, seeing that he has F1 experience… but I think the Red Bull team put a sour taste in his mouth for F1. He probably wants to continue his fruitless pursuit for a NASCAR crown. It’s really tough to stick with American drivers only.

Why not have one American driver at first? If so, Scott Dixon, Will Pwoer, Dario Franchitti, or Sebastian Bourdais would be good candidates. Especially Will Power, if he can recover from his injuries before then.

By: Don Ho

Don Ho — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:40:18 +0000

Alexander Rossi, certainly a good driver and has the desire for F1. I would seriously consider him before another team takes the chance. 10 Wins in 2008, testing with BMW Sauber (defunct), and California born American.

By: AP

AP — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:08:47 +0000

I said it in another thread but maybe a driver that races in a US based series might be good enough qualification…

If they wanted a bolt out of the blue Marcos Ambrose
has raced against Button, Kimi and the like…
Is the best road racer in nascar at the moment, beating Montoya, Speed, Almeninger etc

no he is not American but is well know in US thru nascar.

1998
A move to the UK followed in 1998 with competition in the British Formula Ford Championship with the Van Diemen Team, and a fifth placed finish for the year.

1999
Won the coveted European Formula Ford Championship in 1999, and placed third in the British Formula Ford Championship as well that year.

2000
Raced in the French Formula 3 competition before withdrawing mid-season and hooking up with Alan Docking Racing for the concluding rounds of the British Formula 3 series.

Montoya back would be great but it wont happen.

Kyle Bush, this guy has talent, and while I am not usually this kind with nascar drivers, I think this kid would excel in any thing with a motor.

Danica Patrick would bring in $$ but she would embarrass herself and that would put a dent in her career so I cant see her taking that risk.

Scott Dixon, Will Power, or Ryan Briscoe would also be great options again there all Aust / NZ they are know in US thru the domestic series.

By: The Limit

The Limit — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:55:40 +0000

I would love to see a driver from NASCAR and the IRL take up the positions at USF1. This would certainly generate interest in America and would also determine how drivers from two very different series would fare. I really don’t think that Scott Speed is an option that would create major interest. Juan Montoya certainly will never drive an F1 car again, and alot of the IRL stable have been overlooked by Formula One.
Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti, both European drivers with tons of experience and championships to prove it, but never given an F1 opportunity. Justin Wilson and Robert Doornbos, both ex F1 backmarkers long since forgotten in European race circles. So if its going to be anybody, my money will be on a young racer few people have considered.
Marco Andretti? Quite possibly a consideration. The Andretti name, along with Foyt, without doubt the most legendary name in American open wheel racing. Would cause a stir.
As for NASCAR? A.J Almendinger, young guy, heavily connected with Red Bull, the very same people who are bankrolling Scott Speed’s career. Alot more likely than Kyle Busch, who still wants to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship I would wager, locked in a contract so lucrative only a fool would walk away from. I think its a given that no ‘major’ NASCAR stars are going to jump ship, purely because they are on so much money that leaving would prove too much of a risk.
The failure in F1 of Bourdais for example has not gone unnoticed in America, and he won four Champcar titles!
No, its going to be two young pups, thats for sure.

By: Paige Michael-Shetley

Paige Michael-Shetley — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:15:52 +0000

Right on. Dixon is about as good as any driver not currently in F1.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:04:33 +0000

If you call whining like a little girl personality. Maybe you didn’t see his comment about F1. When asked about F1 he said “well the racing isn’t very good over there” and went on to say when he tests for Toyota and they offer him an F1 ride (think he was a little ahead of himself) he would not take it because he would wait for Ferrari or McLaren to offer him a drive. WHAT AN ASS

By: dsob

dsob — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:19:18 +0000

I won’t “bash” you for your remarks. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

But if you want to talk race records, let’s do just that. Let’s compare with other younger IRL drivers.

Ryan Hunter-Reay has been mentioned quit a bit. In 3 IRL seasons he has 35 races, no poles, 1 win, 2 podiums, 13 top tens. He was IRL and Indy 500 Rookie of the Year for 2007.

Marco Andretti in 4 IRL seasons has 60 races, 1 pole, 1 win, 7 podiums, 22 top tens. He was IRL and Indy 500 Rookie of the Year for 2006.

I believe Ryan Briscoe was also mentioned. In 5 years with IRL, he has 49 starts, with 7 poles, 4 wins, 9 podiums, 27 top tens.

Danica Patrick has 5 years with IRL, and in 77 races has claimed 3 poles, 1 win, 4 podiums and 40 top tens.

Numbers aren’t everything, of course, but in this case they tell us that from this list Briscoe and Patrick are the best so far. Briscoe has a history of many “Not Classified” though, seeming to follow the “checkers or wreckers” school of driving. With 40 top tens/5 podium finishes in 77 starts Patrick is the more consistent of the two.

Patrick currently lies 5th in IRL championship points. Ryan Briscoe has had an awesome season so far(logging 2 of his 4 wins and 5 of his 9 podiums) and is second in points.

From this, I’d say that if an USF1 driver were to come from IRL, it should be either Patrick or Briscoe. But the odds of Patrick leaving IRL, I think, are small. She does, after all, own equity in her #7 team, and seems happy where she is.

I didn’t do stats for drivers from other series who were mentioned, as it isn’t an even comparison. But I don’t feel that Montoya, Speed, or several of the others mentioned are good choices for USF1.

And Wurz? I’d love him to be on my team, but in charge of engineering and setup, not in a seat. Wurz has probably more miles in an F1 car in testing than any other driver ever. That sort of experience would be valuable on car setup, for certain. But are we 100% certain that he’s given up on Superfund ?

Anyway, my thoughts, for what it’s worth.

By: pitt layne

pitt layne — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:29:20 +0000

The only American qualified right now is Speed. Anyone else would need development time. At least a full season. If it aint an American driver why bother. No other team would field a Yank these days considering recent results. USF1 has to be “all in” in this. Just get someone decent and marketable. Let them develop. Otherwise this will never happen. Just like Healthcare Reform. And, have some other American drivers waiting in the wings like Torro Rosso. Third drivers, testers, G
P2, whatever. There needs to be a pipeline for the flow to begin.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:58:22 +0000

Both team principals seem like straight shooters, which seems unusual in F1 these days. If they don’t stick to their published intent to run only American drivers I’ll be very disappointed in them.

By: The sri lankan

The sri lankan — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:34:27 +0000

Danica wont survive in F1. Go on gimme a bash .im not sayingf this becasuse shes a woman but loking at her racing records. this is a fact.

By: Clay

Clay — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:02:09 +0000

OK Danica may not be as quick as some, but for a new team she would bring in massive sponsorship dollars and immediately give team massive exposure. Regardless of who USF1 end up with their car will not be competitive for about 5 years anyway, so why not run her?

And have YOU actually watched Busch race? At least the guy would have a bit of personality…

By: Geopdx

Geopdx — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:52:00 +0000

JPM is getting a little to fat to fit into an F1 car and almost seemed to beg to get out of his contract when he left. He and SebBo, and Nelsino all seemed to burn bridges upon their departure.
My dream team would be Jacques Villenuve and Rossi. An American and a Canadian, Someone with experience winning and someone young who has raced in Europe and had won the BMW america series.

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:12:44 +0000

Great to see so many comments and discussion on some good, talented Americans who may finally get a shot at the big time

Any of the three young Americans would be good, but my first wish is Summerton- he’s a great guy to talk with and work with (read my interview for proof) and he’s raced at many current and recent F1 venues around the globe. Rahal and Hunter-Reay are also good- I believe RHR has a personal sponsorship deal with Izod, so that may be a factor as well.

Either of the experienced guys mentioned would be good, I would also love to see Heikki if he dosen’t get retained at Mclaren, but too many people may misspell his last name In any event, I am looking forward to the whole thing, and to the other team’s driver announcements as well.

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:01:47 +0000

I think you’re a bit off on Speed being the only guy suited to the F1 circus- SUmmerton raced in Europe for several years, including F3 Euroseries in 2006 alongside many of the young stars either in F1 or primed for a seat. After that he was in A1GP and did races at Sepang and Shanghai- the latter is his favorite track outside the USA, don’t ask why……

Finally, his years in Formula BMW Americas put him at Montreal, Indianapolis, and Mexico City, among others. SO he’s probably coming in with more international experience than the average F1 rookie.

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:57:01 +0000

As a McLaren fan who is also behind USF1, I would love to see Heikki keep his seat but I doubt it. In that case, seeing he or Heidfeld at USF1 would be great.And Kubica at McLaren would be fantastic, absolutley fantastic!!

But the best one you’ve got there is Raikkonen at USF1….hilarious to think about, but Anderson/Windsor would never do it.

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:52:34 +0000

With SUmmerton, it happens to the best of drivers in all racing series. SOmetimes it’s related to financial decisions with the sponsors themselves and not anything to do with the skills of the drivers.

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:51:18 +0000

Ehhh if it was this most season, it was Marco Andretti. If it was the previous season, it was former Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice. Summerton diden’t join the team until later in the 2007-08 season

He still had plenty of good drives, however, esp. towards the end of the season.

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:47:45 +0000

Gordon dose indeed have some talent that would have been good in F1- he’s one of the best road course racers on the NASCAR circuit today. From repoerts I have sene he had some semi-serious discussions with BAR back in the mid/late 90’s about pairing up with JV, but obviously diden’t take it. Probably for the better, as the BAR outfit back then wasen’t a very reliable operation…

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:41:00 +0000

Yeah, but he’s not exactly the most humble guy- see: Germany 2009 That’s the good thing about Wurz and PDR- from what I know, they are quiet and well-liked guys with little to no ego.

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:38:24 +0000

He wanted to test a Toyota F1 car in Japan at the end of last year’s NASCAR season, and had the whole thing arranged according to reports. Then, NASCAR prevented him from doing the test because he was “required” to attend the awards banquet for the NASCAR Nationwide Series. It resulted in a very frustrated Kyle making one of the best quotes of the motorspoirt year by saying in a childlike fashion “They (NASCAR) took the F1 car away from me….”

Other than that, I don’t know if eh has any open-wheel experience. I know most of his work in lower series was on dirt-track ovals, if that helps