Role play

[WickerBill]

You are starting a one car team and have a sponsor that is affording you the ability to hire very high end personnel for your team. However, this sponsor wants to win NOW.

Of the drivers out there currently without a ride, which one(s) do you approach?

Someone asked me this today and I just couldn't decide. And no fair saying "I'd give 20 people a test and pick the best one" either. :)


WB

[rabbit]

Donnie Beechler

[GoBlue]

I know he has a non-open wheel ride, but I would pursue Johnny Herbert.

[mnkywrch]

Wants to win NOW and will write the needed check?

Juan Pablo Montoya.

Oh, you mean available American open wheel drivers?

Guess I'd go with Alex Barron...

[rabbit]

In all seriousness, the operative words being "sponsor that is affording you the ability to hire very high end personnel" and "wants to win NOW," I would have to say Memo Gidley. I truly feel that in a top level team in the current environment in CART that Memo could put the car in victory lane AND be a great spokesman for the company.

[Turn7]

Mika Hakkinen

[WickerBill]

Originally posted by mnkywrch

Oh, you mean available American open wheel drivers?




Leave out the "American" stipulation, and you've got it...

[pchall]

Originally posted by Turn7
Mika Hakkinen

Nice choice.

And at the top of a CART podium he would not feel threatened by Mari Hulman George...

[rabbit]

Originally posted by Turn7
Mika Hakkinen

Is he "available?" I thought he was retired.

[Turn7]

With the right sponsor handing out the dough, anybody still breathing, not under contract is available.

[Napoleon]

Herbert and Mika are hard to argue with if they qualify.

Moreno isn't officially signed with anyone yet, correct. That would be my choice, with perhaps Barron as a second.

[mnkywrch]

Originally posted by Turn7
With the right sponsor handing out the dough, anybody still breathing, not under contract is available.

With the right sponsor handing out enough dough, anyone still breathing regardless of contract status is available.

Give me $30 million and I bet I can get you Paul Tracy.

[mnkywrch]

Originally posted by WickerBill
Leave out the "American" stipulation, and you've got it...

Meant American series (CART, IRL, Atlantics, etc...)

I guess I'll stick with Barron.

[JoeBob]

If I had to pick a driver who doesn't have a ride, but is interested in driving, Vasser would have to be my pick. If I needed to pick a teammate for him, I'd probably pick up Michael Valiente. That would leave my team pretty well positioned for the future.

[Dr. Corkski]

I will take Giorgio Pantano since no one has mentioned him yet.

[RacinM3]

Wants to win NOW, huh? Well, that virtually leaves out ANY untested rookie, as much as I like guys like Valiente.

I would have to say I'd hire Vasser. As long as that sponsor is willing to dole out the money for top equipment and personnel.

[RichK]

Since Gil de Ferran doesn't have a real ride, I'll say Gil.

If you mean a driver without any ride, I'd say Jeemy.

[nrc]

I'd have to say Jeemy also. But I'd put Herta in the seat for Laguna Seca.

[trubritz]

My choice - Fiorentina 1....

No, actually I'd go for Jimmy Vasser.

[Turn7]

Originally posted by trubritz
My choice - Fiorentina 1....



Rip your tongue out and stomp it ten times.

[Napoleon]

I am going to change mine to Jimmy. I forgot he was available.

[nrc]

Originally posted by Napoleon
I am going to change mine to Jimmy. I forgot he was available.

Hard to believe, innit?

[rabbit]

Originally posted by Turn7
Rip your tongue out and stomp it ten times.

http://216.40.249.192/mysmilies/otn/blobs/ukliam3.gifhttp://216.40.249.192/mysmilies/otn/blobs/ukliam3.gifhttp://216.40.249.192/mysmilies/otn/blobs/ukliam3.gif
trubritz' tongue

[Classic Apex]

Originally posted by Turn7
Mika Hakkinen

Agreed.

Available or not, I'd pay what it takes to get him to drive.

[Hardpoint]

What ever happened to Thom Christensen? (spelling?) Is he still with Audi?

[Peter Venkman]

I think that rabbit has it.

Donnie Beechler, is the one.

You want someone who can take on any of those sissy road racers and can slap 'um upside the head like 'Ol AJ iffen they don't like bumpin' wheels.

It's time we bring CART back to its roots....

'You just don't know what Beechler means.'

[nrc]

Beechler? Heck, I'd put a dollar toward it just to watch Indianapolis burn to the ground from the lemming's heads exploding. :)

[trubritz]

Originally posted by Turn7
Rip your tongue out and stomp it ten times.

Thurn Theven, now can you thee how hard ith ith for me thoo thype?

Glad you saw the humour in the choice though:D

[Classic Apex]

Am I the only one that saw the title of this thread, and was then disappointed by its subject-matter?

:D

[Dr. Corkski]

Originally posted by Brian Ericson
Am I the only one that saw the title of this thread, and was then disappointed by its subject-matter?

:D Considering most here are male, no.

[Gurneyflap]

Emanuelle Pirro!

[formulaben]

Until it's official (tomorrow?) I'd go for Mika Salo.

[mapguy]

Originally posted by Turn7
Mika Hakkinen

That would be my choice. In terms of pure pace, he is the quickest F1 driver of this generation. Faster than that pointy-chinned, dirty, cheating bastard. I feel he got out of F1 due to the pressure put on him as, not only a McLaren driver, but as a two time driving champ.

Mike would be great as a champcar driver. Just don't expect any excitement during an interview.

[Hink]

Did McNish sign yet or not? If he is available he's not a bad choice.

[Cam]

I loved Mikas' interviews.... He didnt BS! He said what has to be said and that's it! Sometimes you have to admire short and sweet....

Cam.

[DaveL]

Gotta go with Beechler. He's worth .5 of a rating point alone.

Or Tyce Carlson because he's such a nice guy.

Either or. Whatever.

[DjDrOmusic]

Call me nuts, but I always like the young, hungry driver that wants to win because he finally got a shot and he's going to make the most of it. My choice would be Clint Field, who drives for Intersport Racing. I think he's going to be good, and he fits that young, hungry driver mold! ;)

[RaceChic]

Sarah Fisher!!!!:rofl:

If the option was there, Greg Moore (RIP)

Seriously, and nobody tell me I'm obsessed...
Cristiano da Matta!!!! ;)

Or Jacques Villeneuve!!! :D

[Peter Venkman]

If I couldn't get Beechler, I would try to pry Buddy Rice from that Italian raised Goober Eddie Cheever.

I know that Buddy would want to turn right regardless of the lure of that Indiana race, given the right contract and money.

[Railbird]

Well since all the decent veterans, not to mention the dirt track heroes, have already been mentioned. I'd sign Hoover Orsi or Joey Hand unless Narain Karthikeyan is still available.

[Peter Venkman]

"...unless Narain Karthikeyan is still available."

We can only hope.

What series would be complete without one....