The Vision v36.493409.4325098

[IlliniRacer]

Nancy Boy Pantano taking J. Lazier's seat.

from Autosport

Former Grand Prix driver Giorgio Pantano will make his IRL IndyCar debut at Sears Point next month with Chip Ganassi Racing, according to an exclusive report in this week's Autosport.

The Italian is being drafted in for the Sears Point and Watkins Glen road course events following the team's decision to dismiss Darren Manning. Current stand-in Jacques Lazier is regarded as an oval specialist and is not prepared to take part in the road course events.

Pantano's manager David Sears told Autosport: "I'm renting out Giorgio to my old mate Chip for the Sonoma and Watkins Glen races. He's going to follow in the footsteps of (Juan Pablo) Montoya, (Nicolas) Minassian and (Bruno) Junqueira. We'll see where it might lead for next year.

"Giorgio is also looking at opportunities in F1 and Champ Cars next year. He's been unlucky this season in GP2 with a lot of mechanical problems, so this is a chance for him to prove himself again at the top level."

Pantano currently races for Sears' Super Nova team in GP2.

[coolhand]

oval racers cannot cut it in the new IRL i guess :mad:

[Andrew Longman]

Given that Manning was in SJ and Denver, he has a different take than Chip who said on TV a few weeks ago "He's not really fired. He just needs to get out of the car for a while. Maybe we'll bring him back for the road courses once he gets some perspective"

Guess not. Looks like Manning said "You can't fire me, I quit"

[spinner26]

My unerstanding is that Darren TOLD Chip he was a race car driver and that race car drivers have accidents, he was NOT gonna tool around the back because he was afraid of wrecking.

Hope ya land a ride in CCWS Darren, screw Chip!

[Fio1]

If you've notice over the years, Chipo has always looked at David Sears when it comes to picking drivers; Montoya, Junqiera, Minassian, all came from David Sears.

Besides, what does J.Lazier know about road racing above F.Vee? How to run dead f-ing last in Indy Light? :rolleyes:

[L1P1]

He's going to follow in the footsteps of (Juan Pablo) Montoya, (Nicolas) Minassian and (Bruno) Junqueira. We'll see where it might lead for next year.


Where did Minassian finally end up? I've lost track of him. How's Bruno doing anyway? Did JPM do more than one IRL race?

Hopefully Pantano can land a Champ Car seat and we'll see what he can really do. Ron Fellows and Boris Said are the ones who need that sort of work.

[extramundane]

Where did Minassian finally end up? I've lost track of him.

Driving Creation Autosportif's DBA/Judd in LMES/Le Mans.

[pchall]

Where did Minassian finally end up? I've lost track of him. How's Bruno doing anyway? Did JPM do more than one IRL race?


Minassian is driving in the LeMans European Series for Creation Autosportif. Last weekend that team finished 2nd with their DBA 03S Judd at the Silverstone 1000KM behind the Team Oreca Audi R8.

[fourrunner]

JPM only did the Indy 500 for Ganassi ... "My Grandmother could drive these cars" was his famous quote!

Last I heard , Bruno is almost ready ... almost!! ;)

[NismoZ]

Bruno adapted to ChampCars, Minassian didn't. Pantano will race in the IRL, but he WANTS to get to ChampCar. I think The Chipster is only interested in him for 2 races. Given the way things have gone in GP2 I'd take the shot, too. Think he'll be faster than Danica? :)

[devilmaster]

Bruno adapted to ChampCars, Minassian didn't. Pantano will race in the IRL, but he WANTS to get to ChampCar. I think The Chipster is only interested in him for 2 races. Given the way things have gone in GP2 I'd take the shot, too. Think he'll be faster than Danica? :)

This kinda always bugged me... and its a 4 year on hate..... Nic Minassian didn't get a fair shot and I still believe he had the talent. He was done in by Chip's stupidity in hiring 2 rookies, and then not having faith, at least for one year, in his selections.....

When he fired Nic, Bruno hadn't done much better except for a 4th at MKE.....

This ain't against you Niz, i still bitch about that situation whenever Nic comes up. Chip, the great talent scout..... that's why he's basically firing everyone in the tintop stable this year....

[skaven]

Minassian is driving in the LeMans European Series for Creation Autosportif. Last weekend that team finished 2nd with their DBA 03S Judd at the Silverstone 1000KM behind the Team Oreca Audi R8.

1000km behind the winner? I knew the R8's were fast, but that's quite a margin of victory. :gomer:

[Jervis Tetch 1]

If you've notice over the years, Chipo has always looked at David Sears when it comes to picking drivers; Montoya, Junqiera, Minassian, all came from David Sears.

Besides, what does J.Lazier know about road racing above F.Vee? How to run dead f-ing last in Indy Light? :rolleyes:Exactly! The gomers are up in arms over this, but J. Lazier has never run anything worth talking about on a right turn.

I wouldn't want J. Lazier in a car turning right anymore than I'd want his brother B. Lazier in there or Sam the Sham and Jimmy Kite. They can't do it.

[High Sided]

=L1P1 Boris Said are the ones who need that sort of work.

guess i'm a "Said Head" cause i'd love to see him run a champcar on a real roadcourse. :cool: