I really picked up on this during the Busch race, half of the cautions were because of these guys in the wall!
Truck seires: Villeneuve 36th Wall
Busch: Sam Hornish Jr. 38th DNF
Dario Franchitti 39th DNF Tire
Patrick Carpentier 42nd DNF
Cup: Sam Hornish Jr. 37th Wall
Patrick Carpentier 40th
The only bright stop for these guys was WP Montoya 15th in the cup race!
These men were the best it their former series. The numbers speak for themselves. Just because they were great in open wheel doesn't mean they are going to make it here!
On the other hand I think any Nascar great would have just as hard a time moving to open wheel, with the exception of Tony Stewert! A. J. Foyt was able to do it years ago!
2007-11-19 03:47:32 · 10 answers · asked by Working Man 6 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
It's definitely the fans more than the drivers. I don't believe that any of these drivers thought that the switch to stock cars/trucks was going to be a walk in the park. I love to show stats like the ones you've posted to open wheel/F1 fans.
2007-11-19 06:34:19 · answer #1 · answered by Bizz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont think Villeneuve has a whole lot to be ashamed of. He was leading the race for a while and then he made a mistake. Its not as if the speed was a problem. Montoya has done pretty well in very mediocre equipment.
And as for Franchitti, Hornish, Carpentier etc. they are all very average drivers. American open wheel racing is very low grade stuff. franchitti was never anything special and Hornish is crap unless the track is an oval as he proved by never winning a road race in the IRL. If you want quality open wheel drivers you have to look outside the US, the fact is that most of the IRL drivers are of a very low standard and many are not up to even GP2 standard.
The two former F1 drivers on the other hand have shown that they certainly have the speed needed to compete. The fact is that they are coming from a series with a far higher calibre of driver.
2007-11-19 04:30:47 · answer #2 · answered by grrrrrrroooooooooovy 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i'm a race fan I stick to all open wheel and Nascar and F1. F1 has the main technologies not something can touch them in that marketplace. Now that the open wheelers in the US are transforming into decrease back mutually finally some reliable open wheel races with better than 14-19 automobiles. Nascar is merely each the place in the US, it has the fan base.. I merely love racing, as long as there are 2 or 4 wheels i'm the two on the music or in front of the television.. i'm a demanding center Nascar fan, yet I additionally attend Open wheel races as properly.. I do wish to get decrease back to Europe next year for Monaco, I even have acquaintances in France and that they shop bugging me to return decrease back. I lived in Europe for fairly much 3 yrs and that i enjoyed F1, and that i will wait till at last the opener in Aussie land next weekend.
2016-10-02 00:31:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its the fans more than the drivers.
Now that Montoya has put in a full season we see how hard it is. He made a huge improvement over the 2nd half of the season with his car control. He can drive but a Cup car is far different than Cart and F1 cars. Really these guys need to spend a season at the lower levels getting used to the cars.
2007-11-19 06:16:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Finally, someone who doesn't sound biased in one direction or the other! I completely agree. I race in open wheel and would never consider oval tracks or stock cars because the transition is very, VERY difficult. But if you can't make it to F1 as an open wheel racer, is it better to go to Nascar and suffer in mediocrity for a big paycheck?
2007-11-19 03:59:44 · answer #5 · answered by sanfordsportspicks 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yep, welcome to the world of heavier cars and more traffic.. It took Juan a season, now he is rookie of the yr, and he did this in not the best of equipment..He learned and he will only get better..I'm sure the rest of them will come around just like Juan has... Going to be interesting watching all these guys next yr..Scott Speed is going to spend the yr in ARCA and some Nationwide races before he comes over to Sprint cup in 2009..
2007-11-19 05:41:59 · answer #6 · answered by Go Team Penske 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some of those guys will get better. Remember, Montoya crashed a lot of cars at first, too.
2007-11-19 05:34:18 · answer #7 · answered by tuberk768 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes its like the difference between night and day I agree 100%!!!!
2007-11-19 10:29:57 · answer #8 · answered by Ed P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is something different for them...they want to try something new. Whats wrong w/ that? It makes for interesting racing...
2007-11-19 04:00:34 · answer #9 · answered by sierra_91_2000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good on ya...nice to see that someone gets it
2007-11-19 04:16:30 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋