Who would come back?

[Andrew Longman]

If the manufacturers' money is leaving and TG presumably going with low cost stock motors, which current IRL teams do you think would cross back to CCWS? Mind you I'm not asking who you want back.

There wouldn't be much cost-wise to stop them from just buying the needed equipment to run the 500 as a one-off. And they'd have the entire month to set the car up.

My bet is RP might. Marlboro money is ending soon too, and having to choose between the I500 or the entire CART season was part of RP decision to move to the IRL full time, so there is one less reason to turning circles in Sparta.

Andretti is hard to figure. He'll first have to go through the shock of not being able to field a 4 car super team with endless Honda cash. Who knows how he'll take it.

Fernandez might because of the Mexico thing.

Rahal will go where Danica will make him the most money. Right now that looks like the IRL.

Chip won't. He'll concentrate on NASCAR and trying to make maxumum bucks.

Having the balls to show their face in the paddock is another thing.

[SteveH]

None of them.

[RaceGrrl]

Unless ChampCar starts handing out cash, I don't think any of them will come back.

[FTG]

Rahal will want to go racing with his son somewhere in the near future and might want to keep him out of flying crapwagons. Then, of course, there's the Marlboro wants to race in China rumor.

[sundaydriver2]

They've all been on the Yen teet for so long I'm not sure any of them know what a real sponsor is let alone trying to find a legit one.

My guess is none of them will be back.

[Easy]

Rahal wants Graham in Sportscars.

China signed the WHO anti-tobacco thingy. Besides, Marlboro already gets to advertise in China in F1 and WRC.

I could see acouple of drivers returning or joining for the first time but no teams. They will follow the money trail to Daytona or stick with "IRL Vision Version 1 part II, Electric Boogaloo".

[trauma1]

none of the yen whores, but panther is probably one the way out

[FTG]

On the Toyota side, Penske to sportscars, Cheep to stick with NASCAR. I don't think Honda will take all of their teams cabbing. I think AF will probably close his doors. Honda will stay loyal to MA. (Don't think Rahal is ready to retire, but I have no reason to think he would or wouldn't go sportscars.) Who's left? (Once someone goes to the dark side, I forget about them really fast.)

[Andrew Longman]

Just to play devils advocate...

Running the IRL is not going to make anyone rich and so, outside of the 500, I'd guess the big money teams are going to go where ever they find the greatest return, even if it is "diminished"

RP has won 10 500s. I don't think that gets out of your blood. I somehow have a hard time believing.

AF is not going to squander (more than he already has) his celebrity in Mexico. It will keep him in Pina Coladas well into retirement. He can no longer race, but he can put a car on the track.

Rahal is interesting. He'll ride the Danica wagon as long as he can and I suspect she will be most marketable in NA in the IRL, but putting his son in sports cars, will that give him the stardom/riches he wants for him?

Nunn? He's old, tired and only doing this for the money at this point. When the money stops I think he'll retire somewhere nice with him wife.

Chip? Paid by toyota to run Nascar. Message to world: "OW been there, done that, wanna see my BorgWarner trophy?

AGR: Like I said, they will have to look at this completely different. It will have to be less about the money. What will he want for Marco? Probably something more than wins in Sparta, and a once a year chance at the 500. Sports cars will never have enough profile. NASCAR just doesn't seem a fit. F1 is a stretch at this point for anyone with his experience.

[mueber]

It means less money in open wheel, and it is all about money with that group. My guess is that, because of Gomerville, they will generally stay where they are with considerably reduced budgets.

I also would guess that it will be difficult to justify some of the salaries drivers are getting, and that you will see some of the high-end types moving into more modest zip codes when the Honda money dries up. God, Dario might have to stoop to being polite to the fans.

[cart7]

I would guess none but then again, I don't think for a minute that AGR would continue twirling if there's nothing in it for them. Why would TK, Dashley, or Herta keep risking their vertebrae each week for nothing? Why would fMikey or Mario ever want Marco in traction every other year. There's no gains career wise and an Indy wins means nothing any more.

Personally, I could see Adrian coming back if he could scrounge up Mexican financing again to do it.

[mueber]

I allowed myself to get sucked into one of those, “Seventhgear near the end,” doom and gloom things. It seems to me the correct answer is, “I don’t know, and I don’t care. With them or without them, the future will be great.”

...and that's my final answer.

[FRANKY]

Just to play devils advocate...

Running the IRL is not going to make anyone rich

1 Dan Wheldon $412,600
2 Sam Hornish Jr. $297,750
3 Tony Kanaan $293,400
4 Scott Sharp $251,750
5 Bryan Herta $246,600
6 Helio Castroneves $237,650
7 Dario Franchitti $220,300
8 Buddy Rice $212,750
9 Vitor Meira $204,200
10 Darren Manning $197,700
11 Danica Patrick $196,400
12 Patrick Carpentier $193,500
13 Kosuke Matsuura $185,400
14 Tomas Scheckter $181,200
15 Alex Barron $173,300
16 Scott Dixon $168,100
17 A.J. Foyt IV $167,500
18 Ryan Briscoe $160,700
19 Roger Yasukawa $159,100
20 Ed Carpenter $153,500
21 Tomas Enge $144,800
22 Paul Dana $119,800

After two races. CART never matched the IRL when it came to winnings, Champ Car doesn't disclose winnings. I don't see a one going back.

[ChampCar#3]

1 Dan Wheldon $412,600
2 Sam Hornish Jr. $297,750
3 Tony Kanaan $293,400
4 Scott Sharp $251,750
5 Bryan Herta $246,600
6 Helio Castroneves $237,650
7 Dario Franchitti $220,300
8 Buddy Rice $212,750
9 Vitor Meira $204,200
10 Darren Manning $197,700
11 Danica Patrick $196,400
12 Patrick Carpentier $193,500
13 Kosuke Matsuura $185,400
14 Tomas Scheckter $181,200
15 Alex Barron $173,300
16 Scott Dixon $168,100
17 A.J. Foyt IV $167,500
18 Ryan Briscoe $160,700
19 Roger Yasukawa $159,100
20 Ed Carpenter $153,500
21 Tomas Enge $144,800
22 Paul Dana $119,800

After two races. CART never matched the IRL when it came to winnings, Champ Car doesn't disclose winnings. I don't see a one going back.


is that the projected medical costs?

[sundaydriver2]

^^^ Nope, that's the deductable.


:cry:

[FRANKY]

is that the projected medical costs?

Obviously not, or Dana's would be higher and they would have listed Mayer regardless if he didn't pass ROP.

[Jervis Tetch 1]

I'd like to see a few come back just to see the look of hopelessness on FTG's face.

[oddlycalm]

Can't see any of the crossover teams coming back for all the same reasons outlined by others. In the absence of big money sponsors AGR are gone IMO. Marco or whatever, unless it's something Mikey can make money off it I don't see him leaving his office. I certainly won't shed a tear. If I never have to see that piece of dirt at the track again things would be just about perfect. Might see a driver or two filter in... or not.

oc

[Rocketdoc]

I can remember my father's words that the world is not "fair", and to get used to it.

But for Special Ed and AJIV to be paid over 150 large each to occupy a Crapwagon just drives the point home.

[pchall]

1 Dan Wheldon $412,600
2 Sam Hornish Jr. $297,750
3 Tony Kanaan $293,400
4 Scott Sharp $251,750
5 Bryan Herta $246,600
6 Helio Castroneves $237,650
7 Dario Franchitti $220,300
8 Buddy Rice $212,750
9 Vitor Meira $204,200
10 Darren Manning $197,700
11 Danica Patrick $196,400
12 Patrick Carpentier $193,500
13 Kosuke Matsuura $185,400
14 Tomas Scheckter $181,200
15 Alex Barron $173,300
16 Scott Dixon $168,100
17 A.J. Foyt IV $167,500
18 Ryan Briscoe $160,700
19 Roger Yasukawa $159,100
20 Ed Carpenter $153,500
21 Tomas Enge $144,800
22 Paul Dana $119,800

After two races. CART never matched the IRL when it came to winnings, Champ Car doesn't disclose winnings. I don't see a one going back.


The IRL is all about purses and hot shoes. Why else do Wheldon, Castroneves, et al hang out there? ;)

[pferrf1]

I believe the drivers split the purses with their teams.

[Cart Champion]

Without Yen backing how would any be able to come back, CG has his NASCAR team so he is probably not concerned, I don't know if RP has anything tied up in NASCAR, if he doesn't would he consider going there.

Besides I wouldn't want any of those traitors coming back.