The Kid Retires - Page 3

Sandgroper · 6 Jul 2018, 00:38 (Ref:3834912)

WOAH retire whilst your still competitive I guess

Dont tell me SDS is going to take that Seat ?

djr81 · 6 Jul 2018, 00:39 (Ref:3834913)

"Roland (Dane) and I came to the decision between us that this will be my last full season behind the wheel."

So, he was pushed?

"The three-time series champion also confirmed that he will be joining the Supercars broadcast team."

Because there is a shortage of adoration for 888 in the lovefest that is the Supercars Broadcast team?

...and worst of all it makes James Phelps right.

Umai Naa · 6 Jul 2018, 00:39 (Ref:3834914)

A broken clock is right twice a day.

JAFA851 · 6 Jul 2018, 00:56 (Ref:3834920)

Didn't look too happy when he had his press conference. With the repeated "Roland and I", it looks to me like Roland pulled the pin. Anyway, I won't miss him, shame we'll have to endure him on the commentary, wish he'd just dissappear like Ambrose did. Early announcement means bulk merchandise sales....................

Backagain · 6 Jul 2018, 00:59 (Ref:3834921)

Quote:

Originally Posted by djr81

"Roland (Dane) and I came to the decision between us that this will be my last full season behind the wheel."

So, he was pushed?

"The three-time series champion also confirmed that he will be joining the Supercars broadcast team."

Because there is a shortage of adoration for 888 in the lovefest that is the Supercars Broadcast team?

...and worst of all it makes James Phelps right.

Nooo, not another ex Holden driver to add to the already completely biased commentary team, will have to turn off audio.

JAFA851 · 6 Jul 2018, 01:01 (Ref:3834922)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandgroper

Dont tell me SDS is going to take that Seat ?

Replace one grid filler with another? That's not Rolands' style, unless there's a big bag of cash from Holden or Supercars to "assist with his driver selection"??

Forda · 6 Jul 2018, 02:36 (Ref:3834930)

Lowndes is 44, which would be the equivalent to Brock and Johnson retiring in 1989.

DJ won the ATCC title in 1989 (Brock was 3rd), and Lowndes is current 4th place in the current standings.

Seems quite premature.

djr81 · 6 Jul 2018, 02:45 (Ref:3834931)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forda

Lowndes is 44, which would be the equivalent to Brock and Johnson retiring in 1989.

DJ won the ATCC title in 1989 (Brock was 3rd), and Lowndes is current 4th place in the current standings.

Seems quite premature.

Johnson owned his own team and had another ten (?) or so years to go, albeit by the end he wanted to retire and was talked into another year.
Brock made how many come backs? 3? 4?

Lowndes has another 18 months on a contract. Between that and his repeated references to "Roland and I" makes it sound like it was far more Roland than Craig making the decision.

So, speculating, it may well mean many things:
He was, basically, pushed out?
888 already have a good driver on tap for next year?
888 will revert to two cars?
888 will expand to four cars?

Umai Naa · 6 Jul 2018, 02:46 (Ref:3834932)

Average age of drivers was much older back then.

Forda · 6 Jul 2018, 04:25 (Ref:3834939)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

Average age of drivers was much older back then.

Current points totals suggest though, age aside, there's only 3 drivers better than Lowndes at the moment.

Tourer · 6 Jul 2018, 05:16 (Ref:3834941)

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

No need for Mr Phelps to retire, when he is bang on the money!

No he wasn't. Had quotes from CL from an interview Phelps had supposedly done - nup. Claimed CL had made the decision to retire at the end of 2019 - nup. Claimed that decision had already been made back in early May - nup.

Just a bit of guessing on Mr Phelps part.

Umai Naa · 6 Jul 2018, 05:23 (Ref:3834942)

If you throw enough $#it at the wall, something is going to stick.

And that pretty much sums up Mr Phelps' journalistic abilities.

rich07 · 6 Jul 2018, 06:00 (Ref:3834946)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

If you throw enough $#it at the wall, something is going to stick.

And that pretty much sums up Mr Phelps' journalistic abilities.

Bingo.

Shotgun journalism at its finest.

Shame we dont have someone here with the journalistic and investigative skills of Marshall Pruett who covers Indycar/Sportscars in the States for Racer.com for example.

Matt K · 6 Jul 2018, 08:15 (Ref:3834960)

I'm surprised, assumed that he's going to go at least 2019. Also I've got the feeling that it was not entirely his own decision to step down, you can read it between the lines that Dane had something to say. If it wasn't the case, Craig wouldn't have said "Roland and I". That seems pretty obvious. I wonder what plan Dane has and is he going to retain three-car team. Currently he claims it's still undecided. Honestly I'm not sure who could replace Lowndsey in 888.

Kingair · 6 Jul 2018, 09:00 (Ref:3834963)

Interesting development mid season, wonder what the real reason is?

Is Holden putting some pressure on Mr Dane to put a female in the third car?

Could Red Bull be walking away, and no other big sponsor interested?

Autobarn not interested in sponsoring the third car next year?

Was Craig’s contract finishing this year?

Sandgroper · 6 Jul 2018, 12:48 (Ref:3834985)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt K

I'm surprised, assumed that he's going to go at least 2019. Also I've got the feeling that it was not entirely his own decision to step down, you can read it between the lines that Dane had something to say. If it wasn't the case, Craig wouldn't have said "Roland and I". That seems pretty obvious. I wonder what plan Dane has and is he going to retain three-car team. Currently he claims it's still undecided. Honestly I'm not sure who could replace Lowndsey in 888.

Going 15 years to get Long Service Leave

E.B · 6 Jul 2018, 19:13 (Ref:3835055)

At least Craig will now be able to take up other ambitions such as Le Mans. Good luck to him in whatever floats his boat.
I will miss him in the Sprint rounds and will probably not be so committed to follow VASC as a result of his retirement. Yes I know he is not the onlt driver etc but when it comes to keeping fan commitment to a series, straws and camels backs etc. He will be missed no doubt.

Forda · 6 Jul 2018, 22:23 (Ref:3835078)

Dane on Lowndes' replacement sounds all very cryptic:
https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/07/07...s-replacement/

But the article mentions:

De Silvestro has recently moved to Queensland
888 have wanted to increase their female staff ratio to 30% "for some time"
Todd Kelly said De Silvestro is contracted to Nismo for 2019
All will be revealed "in the coming weeks"

Razor · 6 Jul 2018, 23:32 (Ref:3835092)

But an unspoken rule is "Contracts don't mean much in motorsport"

Umai Naa · 7 Jul 2018, 00:11 (Ref:3835095)

That Tekno made a grab for her, suggests that perhaps her contract isn't directly with the Kellys.

Forda · 7 Jul 2018, 11:35 (Ref:3835163)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

That Tekno made a grab for her, suggests that perhaps her contract isn't directly with the Kellys.

So instead with Harvey Norman directly?

Mixer · 7 Jul 2018, 12:04 (Ref:3835172)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forda

So instead with Harvey Norman directly?

Chris Jewell?

The Harvey Norman/Supercars money is significant and I'd question whether they are getting their money's worth at Nissan, and the factory pulling out may have triggered an out clause.

The figure for me about Lowndes is that he has only finished once lower than 4th in the series while he has been at 888, that being last year. That is a remarkable figure.

You'd be stupid to bet against whatever Red Bull car he ends up in for the enduros.

one five five · 8 Jul 2018, 01:28 (Ref:3835282)

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.B

At least Craig will now be able to take up other ambitions such as Le Mans.

He would be unlikely to get any drive above a GTE-Am seat at Le Mans, he has left his run too late in that department.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forda

Todd Kelly said De Silvestro is contracted to Nismo for 2019

I'm not sure how she can be contracted to Nismo for 2019 when they have pulled out. Any contract would have to be with the Kelly's themselves.

JAFA851 · 8 Jul 2018, 01:44 (Ref:3835286)

I thought Simona's contract was for 3 years directly with V8Supercars? And V8 Supercars put together a deal for her to drive the Nissan?

God the Lowndes retiring ****-fest is making me sick already. Skaife is going to have massive blisters on his hands. Going to be watching most of the rest of the year with the tele on mute I think......

Umai Naa · 8 Jul 2018, 03:26 (Ref:3835301)

Fingers crossed they let it go after this event.

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