Bourdais running IROC

2112 · 18 Jan 2005, 16:12 (Ref:1203859)

That`s the word from Jayski`s site. the full list.

Matt Kenseth - NASCAR Nextel Cup (2004 Crown Royal IROC champion)
Kurt Busch - NASCAR Nextel Cup (2004 Series champion)
Mark Martin - NASCAR Nextel Cup (4-time Crown Royal IROC champion)
Sebastien Bourdais - CHAMP CAR (2004 Series champion)
Bobby Hamilton NASCAR - Craftsman Truck (2004 Series champion)
Steve Kinser - World of Outlaws (2004 Series champion)
Max Papis - Grand American Road Racing (2004 Series co-champion)
Scott Pruett - Grand American Road Racing (2004 Series co-champion)
Martin Truex Jr. - NASCAR Busch Series (2004 Series champion)
Helio Castroneves - IRL IndyCar Series (2-time Indianapolis 500 champion)
Buddy Rice - IRL IndyCar Series (2004 Indianapolis 500 champion)
Danny Lasoski - World of Outlaws (2001 Series champion)

Kicking-back · 18 Jan 2005, 16:48 (Ref:1203885)

Good to see him recognised - but it's largely an irrelevant series anyway, IROC.

Snrub · 18 Jan 2005, 17:22 (Ref:1203919)

I think this a very good thing. It shows that there are fewer disagreements with others and CC and it will allow Bourdais to get better at ovals.

In the past have drivers from Grand Am, IMSA, Can-Am, etc. participated in IROC? Where is Kannan?

Kicking-back · 18 Jan 2005, 17:29 (Ref:1203923)

Castroneves andRice are there from IndyCar - Kanaan may have turned it down.

Tenoch · 18 Jan 2005, 18:12 (Ref:1203948)

Its nice to see Bourdais but I wonder why Paul tracy isnt there.

Kicking-back · 18 Jan 2005, 18:16 (Ref:1203952)

Maybe they only made one slot available for Champ Cars, and as such the champion had first shot at it?

2112 · 18 Jan 2005, 20:44 (Ref:1204108)

Tracy was not asked even when he was the champ.
Motorsports politics, it`s alive and well outside of internet forums too.

rustyfan · 18 Jan 2005, 23:14 (Ref:1204233)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2112

Tracy was not asked even when he was the champ.
Motorsports politics, it`s alive and well outside of internet forums too.

The reason IROC didn't invite any Champ Car drivers for 2004 is because Champ Car was extremely late with releasing a fully finalized schedule.

It's not like it's an easy job trying to get even four dates open so people from the various different championships can race. This fact is, of course, ignored by those blinded by their loyalty to Champ Car. I mean, it's Champ Car against the World, right?

On topic, I think the line-up looks great, with sports-car drivers being back as well. Now we just need some NHRA drivers and we're all set

gttouring · 18 Jan 2005, 23:16 (Ref:1204238)

cool cool-i hope he shows well

jjspierx · 18 Jan 2005, 23:20 (Ref:1204242)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustyfan

The reason IROC didn't invite any Champ Car drivers for 2004 is because Champ Car was extremely late with releasing a fully finalized schedule.

Do you REALLY believe that? That would be like me not inviting a friend to my wedding, because I wasn't sure if it would fit his schedule. Makes no sense.

Tenoch · 18 Jan 2005, 23:23 (Ref:1204243)

I doubt it that whoever schedules these things considers the CCWS champion their friend.

rustyfan · 18 Jan 2005, 23:28 (Ref:1204246)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjspierx

Do you REALLY believe that? That would be like me not inviting a friend to my wedding, because I wasn't sure if it would fit his schedule. Makes no sense.

Whatever. You - and all other diehards - are free to believe what you want.

Just take this into consideration - if IROC (which, by the way, is independent from NASCAR and all other "evil" sanctioning bodies) had a "thing in" for Champ Car in 2004, then why would they invite Bourdais this year? Because he's French?

No, believing Tracy wasn't invited "just because" he is Tracy or "just because" he is a Champ Car driver is just as silly as believing Jimmy Vasser was taken out on purpose of the 2003 Busch Series race at Daytona "just because" he was a Champ Car driver (as some have suggested, even on this very forum, IIRC).

jjspierx · 19 Jan 2005, 00:01 (Ref:1204262)

Well Champcar doesn't have a set schedule this year now, do they? What makes it different than last year when they didn't invite Tracy? My personal feeling, is that they knew there was a public outcry over it last year, by not inviting Tracy and they wanted to avoid that happening again this year. There was no reason why Tracy should NOT have been invited last year and he wasn't. If Tracy couldn't make it due to a schedule conflict, then that is his issue he still should have gotten the invite.

codename_47 · 19 Jan 2005, 00:01 (Ref:1204263)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustyfan

I mean, it's Champ Car against the World, right?

No, it's the whole world against Champcar!

This is good news, another Champcar driver in front of mainly NASCAR fans eyes.....

And since it's IROC, you can expect completely fair unweighted coverage between the Champcar and "other series" drivers......in that they'll all be lumped into the "not NASCAR" catagory and given about five minutes of airtime!

Tenoch · 19 Jan 2005, 00:17 (Ref:1204271)

what is the IROC format?

codename_47 · 19 Jan 2005, 00:19 (Ref:1204272)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenoch

what is the IROC format?

Oval Oval Oval Oval......in NASCAR-a-like cars.....

Slipstreaming is a big part of the show.....and Bourdais doesn't have much practice in that, to be fair (or many friends to give him a tow either....)

Tenoch · 19 Jan 2005, 00:21 (Ref:1204275)

I've seen those cars before they're brightly painted and say or at least use to say True Value all over them. So its four races on Ovals, and the one who earns the most points takes it all?

Sparky05 · 19 Jan 2005, 03:13 (Ref:1204359)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjspierx

That would be like me not inviting a friend to my wedding, because I wasn't sure if it would fit his schedule. Makes no sense.

No, but you wouldn't invite the drunken, ignorant, loudmouth neighbor would you?

enemy-ace · 19 Jan 2005, 03:35 (Ref:1204365)

It definitely should have PT on the grid, also Ron Fellows should be there. Give him some Oval experience as well.
I'm afraid Bourdais will be all alone out there.

JohnSSC · 19 Jan 2005, 03:38 (Ref:1204366)

On the flip side of that coin, there was some concern there would be no CC as well - why invite the champion of a defunct series?

I tend to agree with the view that there is a sort of "Institutional Paranoia" here that seems to encourage some to search for the insult/slight when there is not one. The IROC people, legitimately had concerns over scheduling.

You have to admit last year's schedule was still written in sponge at this point and I also seem to recall a last-ditch court appearance to finalize that the three Amigos could indeed by the remains of The Series Formerly Known as CART. Why schedule and announce Mr. Tracy only to find that he could not compete in all of the events? This is not a wedding, it is a made-for-TV racing event billed as a shootout of top talent. Doesn't do much good to advertise Top Talent that won't be there.

macdaddy · 19 Jan 2005, 04:58 (Ref:1204395)

I used to enjoy the IROC series, years ago. Not so much anymore.

I wonder why there are 2 from GrandAm, but nobody representing ALMS? Or TransAm?

brightline · 19 Jan 2005, 05:29 (Ref:1204409)

To answer Tenoch's question:

12 evenly matched cars which are no longer in production, on super speedways, with a heavy focus on drafting, sponsored by Crown Royal.

That's it to me, although I'm sure a few members will probably jump me for my explanation, but it's true.

macdaddy · 19 Jan 2005, 06:05 (Ref:1204421)

I've watched them when they were the Saturday support race for CART in Michigan. Mid-90's. The racing was really exciting. One year, Al Jr won and I got a tire from the car. I think Earnhardt won the championship in the same race, but my memory is too foggy. Either that, or I saw Earnhardt win there also. For some reason I remember the name was significant...

Only... It wasn't really a Saturday "support race". Because your Sunday ticket wouldn't get you in, and the IROC race was $25US in itself.

In retrospect, I think that's why I started "getting into" the IROC, and watching the races on TV. Because one of "my guys" (a CART driver) won the race. They were on network then, but often tape-delayed for a week or more. But my interest has waned to the point of nonexistence anymore. That might change a little this year, I'll be curious to see how Bourdais fares, but I'd like it if CC had two drivers. They should've invited PT just out of good faith.

What I'm doing now is rambling. Sorry.
Carry on.

L-B · 19 Jan 2005, 06:49 (Ref:1204432)

thats one of the better IROC line ups for a while actually 5 Nascar 2 WoO 2 sportscars 3 openwheelers, and the two sportscar drivers are both ex open wheelers.

rustyfan · 19 Jan 2005, 06:58 (Ref:1204434)

Quote:

Originally Posted by codename_47

Slipstreaming is a big part of the show.....and Bourdais doesn't have much practice in that, to be fair (or many friends to give him a tow either....)

If World of Outlaws driver Danny Lasoski can collect two podium-finishes in 2004 (including a win at Texas), I'm sure Sebastien Bourdais can be able to produce some results in 2005 as well.

Just have some faith in the man, rather than coming up with excuses already for his potential lack of results

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