STR, Todt, and Bourdais - Page 2

Down F0rce · 27 Jul 2007, 22:45 (Ref:1975036)

I think he's talented enough to just spend a year at STR. Keep his head down and bang in some consistant performances and he'll get picked up by a bigger team be it RBR, BMW or perhaps Renault. I definitely don't think he is considering STR for a career.

Once he's had a good few years in F1, be they successful or not, he can consider other options. NASCAR may very well be one of them.

Knowlesy · 27 Jul 2007, 22:45 (Ref:1975037)

Would the recent troubles with STR put Bourdais off joining them as well?

Would you want to join STR in Bourdais' position? F1 isn't everything after all.

Dutton · 27 Jul 2007, 23:10 (Ref:1975050)

I think it is a safe bet he would love a run in F1 (he seemed to have previously more or less accepted it was very unlikely, but that would surely make a real possibility all the more alluring).

If he is offered a drive at STR...is he really going to turn it down?

Marbot · 27 Jul 2007, 23:18 (Ref:1975056)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutton

If he is offered a drive at STR...is he really going to turn it down?

All the other Champcar drivers will be secretly praying that he doesn't.

JeremySmith · 28 Jul 2007, 02:06 (Ref:1975098)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Would the recent troubles with STR put Bourdais off joining them as well?

Would you want to join STR in Bourdais' position? F1 isn't everything after all.

Yes and no...

Knowlesy · 28 Jul 2007, 18:43 (Ref:1975391)

Hmm ,just looking in this weeks Autosport (I read it later every week it seems).

This is from a Bourdais interview:

You regard this as your last chance to make the switch (to F1 with Toro Rosso)?
"Yeah, really. If I don't do it now I never will. The only other thing that would stop me from doing this is NASCAR but no one's approached me to do that, and I haven't actually shopped around for a drive there, either. It's all if, if, if."

cds_uk · 28 Jul 2007, 19:51 (Ref:1975413)

When does STR`s option on him run out, isn`t it the end of July?

Bluewolf · 28 Jul 2007, 22:57 (Ref:1975492)

STR has until the end of the month to say yes to Bourdais -- but at this moment they still haven't done it!!! --- So what do you think -- Do they sign him or let the clock run out.

My vote is --- Yes --- they do sign him.

Dutton · 29 Jul 2007, 00:49 (Ref:1975514)

I think we can be 99% certain that he is going to drive for STR next year.

Why would STR not use their option?

Dutton · 29 Jul 2007, 07:11 (Ref:1975586)

*****

One day an incandescence lightbulb shot a happy carrot. It was quite the talk of cabbage patch that winter. Happy days for all.

Dutton · 29 Jul 2007, 07:15 (Ref:1975588)

I have assumed this as a "done deal" for a fair while now.

I will be very surprised if he does not drive for them.

It is ultimately good for both parties, IMO, thus it will occur (both sides have said as much as they can in pointing in that direction).

Down F0rce · 29 Jul 2007, 07:22 (Ref:1975590)

I would also say that he has been signed for at least a few weeks now.

Dutton · 29 Jul 2007, 07:28 (Ref:1975593)

Quite possible.

I have noticed a typo in a previous post. That is quite irritating. Oh, well.

Marbot · 29 Jul 2007, 09:36 (Ref:1975657)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutton

I have noticed a typo in a previous post. That is quite irritating. Oh, well.

hmmm....quite illuminating.

Bourdais will be mad not to sign for Red Bull,unless he feels that he needs yet more Champcar titles.Or has an unhealthy desire to just turn left.

f1manoz · 29 Jul 2007, 20:13 (Ref:1975924)

If Bourdais doesn't jump to F1 for next season, then it will pass him by. While it would be a great loss for ChampCar, Bourdais could turn some heads in Formula One if he gets some testing under his belt.

JeremySmith · 29 Jul 2007, 20:32 (Ref:1975944)

Not in that car he won't..Just my two cents.

Bluewolf · 30 Jul 2007, 00:18 (Ref:1976035)

I'm beginning to wonder if Dietrich Mateschitz has looked at the situation and decided that clearly this whole thing was the fault of Franz Tost and that if they were going to bounce Speed, then Red Bull would say goodbye as a sponser. After all, do you want to be on the side of an individual who assaults someone? Especially when the assaulter is a team owner. That would be lining up with the bad guy in this situation. The fact that Speed told the press what happened has, I believe has been extremely damaging to Tost. -- Now Paddock talk is calling for the firing of Franz Tost and I think they're right. They should get rid of Tost regardless of what they do with Speed and Liuzzi. Here's the link --
http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html...icle&sid=61624

JohnSSC · 30 Jul 2007, 01:56 (Ref:1976063)

A further complication is that, according to the announcing crew for today's CC race, Newman/Haas/Lanigan (Bourdais' team) has entered into an agreement with a NASCAR team (can't recall which at the moment - I think they said Robert Yates Racing) that might allow SB to go to NASCAR.

Not sure what, if any significance there is to this but it is an interesting twist.

davyboy · 30 Jul 2007, 07:18 (Ref:1976127)

To be honest, he's probably better off in NASCAR than in STR. As I mentioned earlier, Bourdais' attitude and ego will not do him any favours somewhere like STR. He'll go from king of the hill in the US to vying with young blood and also rans at the rear of the grid. Its the wrong place and at the wrong time in his career.

Bluewolf · 30 Jul 2007, 09:31 (Ref:1976236)

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

To be honest, he's probably better off in NASCAR than in STR. As I mentioned earlier, Bourdais' attitude and ego will not do him any favours somewhere like STR. He'll go from king of the hill in the US to vying with young blood and also rans at the rear of the grid. Its the wrong place and at the wrong time in his career.

I'm sure Bourdais wants to be seen as one of the greatest racing drivers in the world. And he know's that's impossible unless he goes to F1 and is successful there -- So -- a 1 year deal at STR -- run much quicker than he's supposed to in that pile of junk -- and get to another team in '09. Then start a serious bid for the title. If you want to be seen as one of the greatest drivers in the world you have to race against them. The most gifted drivers in the world are in F1. Nothing else even comes close. He can win 10 champ car titles and it will mean little at best to the worldwide fans of open wheeled racing.

JohnSSC · 30 Jul 2007, 09:36 (Ref:1976241)

The only problem with your theory Bluewolf, is that there is not a snowball's chance in hell that SB will ever get a seat with a team that could challenge for the WDC. There are only 6 seats in F1 that can provide that possibility and he is nowhere near good enough for any of them.

To be honest, IF he goes to STR and drives the wheels off the thing he will still find it difficult to get a ride with a team that could challenge for a podium, let alone win let alone the WDC.

You have young guys like Sutil, Vettel, Kubica, Heiki, that Hamilton fella, etc all either in line for a top seat or already in one who are way quicker than SB ever was or will be.

I really do hope he catches on in F1, but his chance to climb the ladder to a top team is way past him.

spider · 30 Jul 2007, 10:00 (Ref:1976256)

it's pretty obvious what the plan is surely? STR for 2008, with the opportunity of moving to the Red Bull main team in 09?

davyboy · 30 Jul 2007, 11:50 (Ref:1976322)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

The only problem with your theory Bluewolf, is that there is not a snowball's chance in hell that SB will ever get a seat with a team that could challenge for the WDC. There are only 6 seats in F1 that can provide that possibility and he is nowhere near good enough for any of them.

To be honest, IF he goes to STR and drives the wheels off the thing he will still find it difficult to get a ride with a team that could challenge for a podium, let alone win let alone the WDC.

You have young guys like Sutil, Vettel, Kubica, Heiki, that Hamilton fella, etc all either in line for a top seat or already in one who are way quicker than SB ever was or will be.

I really do hope he catches on in F1, but his chance to climb the ladder to a top team is way past him.

You're absolutely right John. Its people like Sutil, Vettel, Kubica, Heiki and Hamilton [and a whole host of other kids] that he's competing against for top seats. The F1 paddock's a fickle place and they'd rather put a 20 year old from WSR or GP2 in a seat than someone who has spent the last few years 'out of the scene' in Champcar in the US. Its extremely rare that people come from single seater racing in America to success in F1. More often than not the progression's been the other way.

foreversideways · 30 Jul 2007, 12:15 (Ref:1976344)

It shows you what a mess F1 is in now. There is a total lock out on the podium places by two / three teams. Even manufacturers employing 1000+ people can't make it there. To me there is no point SB even bothering to come over if all that is on offer is a back of the grid team. The winning teams have their favoured drivers and i would be very surprised if he could make an enough of an impression with STR to move to a better team. He is clearly a very good driver but for whatever reason, probably financial, his face didn't fit. He would be better to get himself on the Nascar Gravy train and make his fortune.

kipper · 30 Jul 2007, 16:18 (Ref:1976499)

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreversideways

To me there is no point SB even bothering to come over if all that is on offer is a back of the grid team. The winning teams have their favoured drivers and i would be very surprised if he could make an enough of an impression with STR to move to a better team. He is clearly a very good driver but for whatever reason, probably financial, his face didn't fit. He would be better to get himself on the Nascar Gravy train and make his fortune.

I take your point that Bourdais is taking a significant risk in entering F1 with Toro Rosso for the chances of him making the move work are slim. That said, given F1's continued focus on youth will probably minimise any future chances. Therefore, for a driver that has long aspired to racing in F1, Toro Rosso may be the only opporunity to give it a go. I guess that if it doesn't work out Bourdais will still have a reputation in the US to move back into American single seaters or maybe NASCAR.

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