Former F1 driver Danny Sullivan will advise the German Grand Prix stewards this weekend.
Although Sullivan only started a single season in F1, with Tyrrell in 1983, he had a very successful career in the American Indy Car series afterwards.
He claimed the CART title for Penske in 1988, but was best remembered for his win in the 1985 Indianapolis 500. He beat Mario Andretti to the win despite spinning through 360 degrees during their battle for the lead.
The American driver won a total of 17 races from 170 starts in his CART career.
The other stewards this weekend are Paul Gutjahr (President of Auto Sport Suisse), Waltraud W?â??nsch (deputy member of the FIA international court of appeal) and Jos?â?® Abed (President of the Organizacion Mexicana Del Deporte Automovilistico Internacional).
2010 German Grand Prix
BasCB
21st July 2010, 17:21
I just hope we’ll hear about him only after the training sessions and the race when the penalties for speeding in the pitlane etc. before the race are confirmed.
Nothing personal, he raced pretty impressively in CART. Just no controversy needed, i want Ferrari to stay in the title hunt :-D
John H
21st July 2010, 18:25
So long as Ferrari actually _listen_ to Charlie and the stewards, I’m sure there will be no problems.
Tim
22nd July 2010, 9:10
Then let’s just hope Sullivan doesn’t harbour any grudges against Ferrari from his days of running Alfa Romeo engines in CART….
schooner
21st July 2010, 17:42
I’m from the US, and have always admired Danny Sullivan. A good race car driver and race commentator, and seemingly a pretty nice guy. That said, the announcement took me by surprise. He doesn’t have much F1 experience, and has been out of the game for some time. Those that questioned Emerson Fittipaldi’s stewardship will certainly be scratching their heads over this one. I expect he’ll be fine, though. He knows racing, and his experience as a race analyst and commentator will be an asset as well.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
21st July 2010, 17:46
I haven’t got a problem with the choice – I haven’t had a problem with any of them so far. Sullivan has plenty of experience.
bosyber
21st July 2010, 18:34
Maybe it will help stop Ferrari worry about the length stewards take to decide, he should have some experience with SC periods!
Robert McKay
21st July 2010, 18:00
It’s probably better actually that it’s someone with experience and yet not necessarily as big a “name” as a Mansell or whatever.
Joey-Poey
21st July 2010, 18:46
Danny Sullivan! As a big fan of the old CART days he’s definitely among my heroes. Especially fond memories of his spin-to-win
kapow32 (@kapow32)
21st July 2010, 19:18
And here is the footage that must accompany any mention of Danny Sullivan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F30-Xwl8Y-o
My father was sitting in the infield right where Sullivan spun, but he says he could only see the two turns, not the short chute where Sullivan spun. So my dad saw Sullivan leading Andretti in turn 1, then heard an engine go silent briefly, then saw Andretti lead Sullivan through turn 2, he had no idea what happened till he got home and saw it on the news.
Ladygearhead63
25th July 2010, 18:14
I was there. But, I was on the back stretch back in those days. Was an amazing race!! I used to have a “shrine” to Danny…hahaha.
f1yankee
21st July 2010, 19:20
danny sullivan, wow! i doubt indycar will reach the level of that era ever again.
Joey-Poey
22nd July 2010, 4:55
Not likely. The mid-80’s to mid-90’s were fantastic years for the sport. The combination of great old names with some future stars and just awesome circuits… I know everyone’s going to say rose tinted glasses, but the new incarnation of Indy just doesn’t hold the same thrill now that it’s a spec series.
Ladygearhead63
25th July 2010, 18:13
no kidding. THOSE CART days were amazing!!!!! I met Danny at Mid-Ohio and my son met Greg Moore there, also. (may he RIP and “go fast, turn left” in racing heaven).
Nascar is choosing not to broadcast on regular TV and losing fans pretty fast. With the economy the way it is in the US, cable and satellite TV is one of the first “luxuries” to go. I, for one, have separated myself from Nascar.
Hey, I’m just a race fan…open wheel, stock, etc. if it goes fast, I watch it.
DaveW
21st July 2010, 20:04
Whom will he biased against? It has to be someone, of course. Or, more to the point, will he for or against Ferrari?
He runs or ran the RBR driver development program for U.S. drivers. So expect him to call a false start on all but four cars. You heard it here first.
Ladygearhead63
25th July 2010, 18:15
He won’t be biased against anyone or any team. He’s a decent guy.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
21st July 2010, 20:24
Sounds like a good choice to me.
Tobinen
21st July 2010, 22:32
I thought Sullivan had an Alfa Romeo connection too in F1? Anyway, he’ll be fine. Racers know the SP
HounslowBusGarage
22nd July 2010, 13:29
Not in F1, he did a few ‘guest drives’ for Alfa in the DTM after he finished with F1 (where he drove for Benetton Tyrell).
I’m sure he’s a nice bloke and very capable of giving advice and so on, but it just seems like this is turning into a ‘Special Guest Star’ concept with the inclusion of drivers with very limited F1 experience more than a quarter of a century ago.
Who’s next? Paul Belmondo, Norbert Fontana?
But maybe the FIA has asked other, better, more recently retired drivers and they’ve all refused.
Juan
22nd July 2010, 1:42
There’s a story that he pretty much fell out of F1 because at the time he was dating Linda Carter (Wonder Woman) and was having too much fun riding something other than a F1 car to be based in Europe.
Good on ’em. :D
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
22nd July 2010, 3:03
Never heard about him but I hope he work good.
adam mason
22nd July 2010, 9:22
Ive gotta say im really enjoying this guest steward stuff.
grosjeans.rubble
22nd July 2010, 13:54
he was great in Miami Vice… let’s hope there are no major issues that cause more steward controversy.
manatcna
22nd July 2010, 23:34
I’ve never heard of him, but then he’s probably never heard of me either.
:)
Ladygearhead63
25th July 2010, 18:08
I have been a Danny Sullivan fan since attending my first Indy 500 in 1985! (Yes, I rooted for him and wasn’t just a fan because he won)
I never expected to hear his name again!!!!!!! Still love you Danny!!!!!!!!!!!