Dario to fill in for DaMatta

[jv#12]

Originally Posted by norman-normal

Foyt and Andretti together again????? COME ON!!
Something pretty fishy going on here.

now all we need is an Unser in the mix. weird

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by luke

The fact AGR replaced him even though he will have been basically concussed a week before race day which is fine

Depends on the severity of the concussion, of course. Also, given the nature of the ChicagoLand track it's not a very good idea to race when you might have lingering side-effects of a concussion affecting your concentration etc.

I mean, when Dale Earnhardt Jr. suffered a concussion at Fontana in 2002 he suffered from the side-effects for around four months. NASCAR was rather unhappy, to say the least, when it eventually emerged that he had kept on racing (he had managed to get through the post-crash medical checkup without the doctors discovering the concussion).

That Franchitti most likely will fill in for da Matta at RuSport probably played in to a certain degree though, and I wouldn't be surprised if AGR and Franchitti mutually agreed that he should sit out to get fully healed without having to rush it, while the team gets a chance to try a different driver.

[mountainstar]

If he really is concussed, then I would think his champcar ride with rusport may be in jeopardy, thereby squelching his glorious return.

[D.R.T.]

The next CC race is September 24, his concussion depending on how severe should be clear by then

[Stephen Green]

Darios accident was pretty big at Goodwood and I heard he suffered severe concussion. His accident took out a huge length of tyre wall and belting and he was taken to hospital after for observation. I think you will find the accident was a lot harder than many of you may think.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by Stephen Green

Darios accident was pretty big at Goodwood and I heard he suffered severe concussion. His accident took out a huge length of tyre wall and belting and he was taken to hospital after for observation. I think you will find the accident was a lot harder than many of you may think.

I'm not surprised to hear that, considering the car he was driving wasn't exactly up to modern safety standards.

[Hazza]

You know, I reckon this is the Surfer's Curse coming into effect early.

No one wins Surfers more than once...NO ONE

Aside from that I hope he's back in for Indy, atleast.

[macdaddy]

I've always liked Dario, and I welcome him back to ChampCar with open arms. Hopefully he'll stick around.

[Davhut]

Stick a fork in Dario, he's old news. Done.

[Peter Ford]

Have rusport announced that dario will be replacing damatta yet,i keep going to the cart and and there no statement about it yet.

[Hazard]

RuSport have confirmed that...no one will drive car #10 at Road America.

Again, Justin Wilson will lead a single car effort.

[Tim Northcutt]

Dario told the IndyStar that he has not spoken with anyone from RuSport about replacing da matta....

The concussion has just complicated this scenario even more....

Don't hold your breath.

[marcus]

thats a shame , would have been great to see dario back in the series at least for the rest of the year

[luke]

It is a shame. But hey it is possible for 2007. Lets see what happens I guess.

[Ranald]

autosport.com are saying today that talks between Dario and Rusport have broken down. Apparently he is asking for too much money and maybe more importantly he is trying to gaurantee a seat with the team next year.

Quote:
RuSPORT team president Jeremy Dale would not be drawn on the circumstances of the collapse of the talks. He said: "It's unfortunate, but we have in the mean time opened other avenues for filling that seat for [the final two rounds] Surfers Paradise and Mexico City."

Asked if there might still be a chance that Franchitti would race for RuSPORT in Australia and Mexico, he said: "Never say never... but I'm 99.9 per cent certain that won't be the case."

[Snrub]

That sucks...

That's the one thing about unconfirmed news for this series, it's never done until the official annoucement 2 days before the race.

[racinthestreets]

Goodbye Ashley! You will be missed around the paddock - if by none other than me!

It appears that Dario will be in ALMS next year - although, AGR did reveal that they plan on 4 cars next year.

[D.R.T.]

RuSPORT team president Jeremy Dale would not be drawn on the circumstances of the collapse of the talks. He said: "It's unfortunate, but we have in the mean time opened other avenues for filling that seat for [the final two rounds] Surfers Paradise and Mexico City.

Obviously $$$$ are going to be an issue but I cant see a better candidate for the 2nd Rusport car for 2007.

[mountainstar]

Someone was reporting somewhere daREO slowwagon wanted $1 million for the last 3 races. I don't think he's worth it and rusport thought the same.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

daREO slowwagon

[luke]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Someone was reporting somewhere daREO slowwagon wanted $1 million for the last 3 races. I don't think he's worth it and rusport thought the same.

If he wanted £1 million for the last 3 races and considering he isn't as good as he used to be RuSPORT may as well put all their resources and focus as much as possible on getting Justin 2nd in the standings..

[drewdawg727]

ok how about we start talking about why we like/dislike Dario Franchitti. I have heard enough of:

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

I cant see a better candidate for the 2nd Rusport car for 2007.

and then the next person comes back with

Originally Posted by mountainstar

I don't think he's worth it and rusport thought the same.

Obviously we are all in disagreement about how we feel about Franchitti. Why do you like or dislike him?

I'll start...i think Franchitti is an incredible race driver. He was not the lowest on the AGR totem pole at any point since he was on that team. He has been fast and he has shown that he can win. I think given a good team like RuSport, he will be a great candidate for the drive.

[mountainstar]

Well, I don't think he is a terrible driver.

BUT, the past four seasons I think he has done about nothing with agr, especially considering the huge salary he was being paid. It was publically quoted in 2003 that he was getting $8 million that season from honda for making the switch.

To me it's a cost/benefit ratio thingy. For $1 mil, I'd rather see an atlantic driver get a good chance or better yet try out an american driver that hasn't gotten a good break. From a championship perspective, I can't see how dario after being away for years, will really add that much to justin wilson's campaign. Nor do I think the fans will storm the barricades at the last races just to see amazing francheeki.

His options don't appear to be many, but if he gets a drive in champcar next year, I'll neither be for it or against.

[norman-normal]

Things are changing for Rusport, they are indeed, concerned about beating Newman Haas and now Forsythe but there are a couple of young tigers in CTE who haven't been paying them much respect lately.

Next year it will be getting a little crowded up front IMO.

[marcus]

so I wonder who Rusport have in mind for Surfers and mexico then ??