2006 CCWS Silly Season

[drewdawg727]

Imagine 25+ cars in San Jose???

[Amar7605]

If you have too many cars, then there is a greater chance of the race being more processional because of the increased traffic. If there are a great number of cars who are off the pace, they could slow the lead cars because they would be unnecessary traffic.

[Mystery]

I think I would agree about the number of cars. Perhaps 26 was be about as far as I would go, but sadly that kind of number is a dream only in CC at the moment and that is sad.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by drewdawg727

Sorry for switching topics again..but about the size of the grid in the future :Personally, i don't think there should be TOO many cars...
I mean look at NASCAR...there are over 40 cars in one race, and it's a crashfest. Every single time i turn the channel to a NASCAR race, there's 5 or 6 cars sprawled out on the grass somewhere because of a crash.
Anything above 25 cars in a race is just downright dangerous, and it's not even racing.

Actually, other than Talladega there haven't been a whole lot of big multi-car crashes in the recent NASCAR Cup races - not even during the latest race at Charlotte which was plagued by massive tire-problems (no kidding, but 42 of the 43 starting cars suffered some sort of tire-problem during the race).

EDIT - Personally I think around 25 cars is a good, solid number for a Champ Car field, but the more cars the merrier

[Snrub]

Interesting that Vasser says that CDM is all but gone from PKV while CDM says he will most likely be staying. Frankly I think NH would be better off with CDM as Bourdais teammate.

[macdaddy]

I was unaware that Vasser was suggesting CdM's departure.

[macdaddy]

Reports in the Brazilian media affirm that Antonio Pizzonia has already communicated to Sir Frank Williams that he does not intend to carry on as the squad’s third driver next year... focusing his efforts for next year in landing a ride in Champ Car or the IRL.

SpeedTV.

[Amar7605]

Pizzonia would be a great pickup. But I wonder if now (and I am not implying that Pizzonia is doing this) international drivers are looking at Champ Car as a jumping point for F1 rides, and nothing else.

On the other hand, this brings up a whole new conversation, so please don't feel like you have to respond :-)

[Raglanparade]

If it brings talented F1 level drivers to Champ Car...... then its for the good of the sport !

Id love to see as many cars as possible with as many drivers as possible !

the more cars on the track, the better !

if worse comes to worse, they can always extend the shorter street circuits !

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by Amar7605

Pizzonia would be a great pickup. But I wonder if now (and I am not implying that Pizzonia is doing this) international drivers are looking at Champ Car as a jumping point for F1 rides, and nothing else.

On the other hand, this brings up a whole new conversation, so please don't feel like you have to respond :-)

It's a valid point worthy of discussing though (even though it would probably be better off in a thread of its own). I mean, I doubt Pizzonia is looking towards Champ Car because he wants to make a career out of it and race in Champ Car for 10-15 years. Heck, even Sebastien Bourdais would probably leave in the blink of an eye if he got even a moderately good Formula 1 offer.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

I mean, I doubt Pizzonia is looking towards Champ Car because he wants to make a career out of it and race in Champ Car for 10-15 years. Heck, even Sebastien Bourdais would probably leave in the blink of an eye if he got even a moderately good Formula 1 offer.

While I am sure F1 is these drivers preference (as any driver in any OW series), F1 seats are so few and far between these days that a career in Champ Car or IRL is an attractive one.

[Snrub]

But does Pizzonia have a realistic chance of getting back into F1? If he realizes the reality of the situation then he may set his sights on a long term career in US OW. Unless he does something utterly spectacular he'll not be going anywhere.

[Snrub]

Bourdais will be back for 2006. http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/20382/

[GBoehm]

Hmmmmm.
http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/20403/

[Amar7605]

That Ganassi idea is so stupid, for the simple fact that it basically is a mini championship for the well-funded teams, and it leaves out the lower-tiered teams.

Any championship should include everyone, even if lower teams have no chance of winning, because it's only fair. If this happens, then you can be guaranteed that there will be a severe backlash within both CC and the IRL.

[mountainstar]

It's just an idea and like a lot of ideas it will probably never happen. Forsythe sounded non committal. We'll see what KK's take is on this.

[D70s]

The real flaw with Ganassi's idea is that the IRL teams are sure going to give thier guys better cars in the IRL races, where the Champcar guys will have better equipment than thier IRL counterparts in the Champcar races. Can anyone really see Roger giving the Newman-Hass guys equal equipment to his guys?

I believe the only way for this to get back together is to set an equal set of specs and just get back together as one series.

[stmookeyj033]

The one positive I can see from this is that he knows that re-unification is needed.

[Mystery]

Everyone apart from Tony George knows that though and he is, quite understandably, keen to hold on to control of his biggest card, the 500. Re-unification seems as far off as even in my eyes.

[rustyfan]

I still think Andretti's idea of two separate championships with compatible equipment allowing for a handful of joint events and crossovers whenever a team wants to do so is the best one.

Trying to stay on topic, the PKV shoot-out should be interesting. In a way I hope Briscoe does indeed take part and even does get a Champ Car ride - for some reason it seems he just hasn't been able to adapt to IndyCars very well. Then again, perhaps it was somewhat expected with him going from a non-competitive testing-enviroment straight to ovals for the first time and the close, hard racing there.

[D.R.T.]

Yeah interesting the shootout. I hope Dalziel secures the ride, not saying the other contenders aren't deserving but this guy has been waiting for this ride for a while.

Other interesting participants in this shootout are Glock and Manning. With Glock reportedly being pretty unhappy at Rocketsports he is looking to be on the move, if he is unsuccessful with PKV where will he go, same for Manning, RHR.

[StickShift]

Of the names mentioned for the PKV seat, Briscoe is the driver that I'd go after. He's been very quick on the road and street course races in the IRL.

I assume that Briscoe will leave Ganassi if they acquire Honda engines for next season.

[GBoehm]

Then again Ryan and Jimmy are old team mates.

[Snrub]

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/20611/

AGR has made CDM an offer. CDM says he's leaning towards PKV.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/20625/

Bourdais doesn't sound far from a seat on BMW's F1 team.

[GBoehm]

Hmm penske and Kalkoven are going to be on windtunnel together???