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USGP
Topic Started: Jun 15 2009, 12:43 PM (596 Views)
stradlin24
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That said, looking at current young American talent I’d say the only driver I’d put forward is Kyle Busch but at the same time it’s completely irrelevant anyway because if the car is rubbish then the drivers won’t score points, simple as that

Look at Button of 2008 to Button of 2009, proof positive that the car is the winner, not the driver. And if your face fits then you get a good car, not much else too it

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Norbert
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The reason that a lot of American drivers struggle in F1 is because in some series in the States, most of the drivers are just there to make the numbers up. I don't doubt that drivers like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and a few others would do (or would have done) reasonably well in F1. However, if you are journeyman in NASCAR or IRL, then you'll be a nothing in F1. Tony Stewart has proved you can go to ovals from road courses, but few other drivers have. However, most drivers seem to be able to do the opposite, eventually. Of course, Tony Stewart did that almost immediately. I'm surprised that JPM hasn't done better considering his oval experience from ChampCar (albeit a very different art form).

Michael Andretti was crap because in his usual big-headed way he decided his way was best, and that was apparently flying in from the US for every race and test session....

Bourdais was a multiple champion in ChampCar, and hasn't exactly set the world alight, which merely proves that in the world of standard car parts, the mechanics are probably more important than the driver unless they are a supreme talent.

If USF1 want to use American drivers and have half a chance of doing well, then they'll need decent drivers who can turn left and right, *and* be willing to take the risk of the car being hopeless. I don't see any of the NASCAR drivers being willing to take that risk. Scott Speed is still contracted to Red Bull. Sarah Fisher and Danica Patrick might possibly be up to the job, but I don't think they'd be good enough to get consistant results. Robby Gordon is probably well past single seater days, and IIRC he owns his own team anyway. I don't keep up with ChampCar/IRL (not enough time) so I'm not really sure who is any good in it, especially US born, and even more so on road courses as well as ovals. I think USF1 should bite the bullet and sign whoever will drive for them, US or not. If they want a name that the Americans are familiar with, what about Helio Castroneves?
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TheCompleteGuitarist
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Red Andy,Jun 17 2009
11:10 AM
JPM wasn't exactly a failure in F1, was he?

Not actually North American and South America in the form of Brazilians and Argentinians at least have a good reputation in F1.
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GordonB
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Norbert,Jun 17 2009
12:04 PM
Bourdais was a multiple champion in ChampCar, and hasn't exactly set the world alight, which merely proves that in the world of standard car parts, the mechanics are probably more important than the driver unless they are a supreme talent.

Erk!! <yikes>

That doesn't bode well for the way F1 is going, now, does it?
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sportsman
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How about Jonathan Summerton.
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Nomad
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Norbert,Jun 17 2009
06:04 AM
Michael Andretti was crap because in his usual big-headed way he decided his way was best, and that was apparently flying in from the US for every race and test session....




Word about the paddock here was that Michael did his commuting act because his then wife threatened to leave him if they moved to Europe or he set up a residence there. He seems unlucky and lucky. He didn't and she did anyway.

On the other hand, he was generally considered a prat anyway for many other reasons.
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stradlin24
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sportsman,Jun 17 2009
01:56 PM
How about Jonathan Summerton.

Decent call but he’s just lost his Indy Lights seat to Pablo Donoso so he’s not active at the moment so it’s hard to judge

Plus the races he won in Atlantics was in an incredibly weak field

He looked like a serious prospect at one point, he needs some direction
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Rob
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ELUSIVEJIM,Jun 17 2009
06:26 AM
If USGP want to have ANY chance in F1 they need to go for drivers who are not racing in the US.

Apart from Montoya there has been NO drivers who have come from Champ Car etc who have done well in F1.


JV?



Don't ever make me say something positive about him again. <hitwall>




<sarcasm>
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Rob
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Nomad,Jun 17 2009
09:19 AM
Norbert,Jun 17 2009
06:04 AM
Michael Andretti was crap because in his usual big-headed way he decided his way was best, and that was apparently flying in from the US for every race and test session....




Word about the paddock here was that Michael did his commuting act because his then wife threatened to leave him if they moved to Europe or he set up a residence there. He seems unlucky and lucky. He didn't and she did anyway.

Did you ever see his second wife though <flirt>


I think wife 3 may be a former Playmate.
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Alien_SAP_Fiend
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Why do the USGP drivers have to be American?

I mean, when was the last time an Italian drove for Ferrari?
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Rob
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I think it's just to build up a following here. To be honest Yanks won't watch an American team w/ no American drivers.
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Red Andy
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Alien_SAP_Fiend,Jun 17 2009
05:07 PM
I mean, when was the last time an Italian drove for Ferrari?

Larini in 1994. <whistle>

But then Enzo was never very keen on having Italians drive his cars after Lorenzo Bandini was killed in the 1960s. Not that he was still alive in 1994 but the ethos presumably lived on.

Still, there are plenty of examples of drivers being picked on the basis of nationality rather than ability. Sato at Super Aguri/Honda/Jordan, Ide and Yamamoto also at Super Aguri, Klien at Red Bull/Jaguar....the list goes on and that's just in the last few years. Really what USF1 are doing is nothing new, and there is a huge amount of young talent in the States although most appear to aspire to NASCAR now as that is where the big money is.

A presence in the US has to be something F1 will aim for in the future, especially if the manufacturers stick around, so I can see the logic behind a so-called "All-American" effort. Besides which, I doubt the "Americans-only" philosophy will hang around much longer than it takes the team to get established in F1.
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flood1
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I guess if had be be somebody from the US, as opposed to an American (Senna was an American, a South American) then I would give Alex Rossi a chance.
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ELUSIVEJIM
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Red Andy,Jun 17 2009
05:20 PM
Alien_SAP_Fiend,Jun 17 2009
05:07 PM
I mean, when was the last time an Italian drove for Ferrari?

Larini in 1994. <whistle>

But then Enzo was never very keen on having Italians drive his cars after Lorenzo Bandini was killed in the 1960s. Not that he was still alive in 1994 but the ethos presumably lived on.

Still, there are plenty of examples of drivers being picked on the basis of nationality rather than ability. Sato at Super Aguri/Honda/Jordan, Ide and Yamamoto also at Super Aguri, Klien at Red Bull/Jaguar....the list goes on and that's just in the last few years. Really what USF1 are doing is nothing new, and there is a huge amount of young talent in the States although most appear to aspire to NASCAR now as that is where the big money is.

A presence in the US has to be something F1 will aim for in the future, especially if the manufacturers stick around, so I can see the logic behind a so-called "All-American" effort. Besides which, I doubt the "Americans-only" philosophy will hang around much longer than it takes the team to get established in F1.

Well Rats and Senna died the last time a Italian drove for Ferrari.

Think Italians should be banned from sitting in a Ferrari at a F1 event <sarcasm>
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RJHSaints
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stradlin24,Jun 17 2009
03:21 PM
sportsman,Jun 17 2009
01:56 PM
How about Jonathan Summerton.

Decent call but he’s just lost his Indy Lights seat to Pablo Donoso so he’s not active at the moment so it’s hard to judge

Plus the races he won in Atlantics was in an incredibly weak field

He looked like a serious prospect at one point, he needs some direction

Didn't he win races in A1? I think I've heard of him, you would think that having someone with recent single-seater experience (on the European scene) would be a benefit to them if they go for just Americans.
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