Scott Speed to...the IRL?

[JohnSSC]

With Scott announcing his focus on racing opportunities in the US rather than F1, the assumption is he would bring at least some Red Bull $$ with him.

Folks in the CC forum presume that he will of course, end up there.

But will he? While the well may have been poisoned by the experience with Cheever, Red Bull $$ have been associated with the IRL as well as CC and NASCAR.

The IRL has a number of strong drivers with the same international "flavor" and experience we find in CC. In your opinion, is it a given that if Scott Speed gets an open wheel drive in the US, it will be in CC?

[luke]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

With Scott announcing his focus on racing opportunities in the US rather than F1, the assumption is he would bring at least some Red Bull $$ with him.

Folks in the CC forum presume that he will of course, end up there.

But will he? While the well may have been poisoned by the experience with Cheever, Red Bull $$ have been associated with the IRL as well as CC and NASCAR.

The IRL has a number of strong drivers with the same international "flavor" and experience we find in CC. In your opinion, is it a given that if Scott Speed gets an open wheel drive in the US, it will be in CC?

I think he is going to CC which is already being discussed in multiple threads because ovals aren't what he does and in the past he has hinted that he'd love to race Champ Car after a career in Formula 1. IMHO I find it unlikely he'll race in IRL but we'll see. And he has seen how well Doornbos etc have done my money is him going to CC. I personally don't know what the ovals can offer him as I don't believe its his cup of tea.

[JohnSSC]

We didn't know if ovals would be CDM's cup of tea, or Mansell's or Emerson's or Bourdais', or Cheever's, or Helio's, or Graham Hill's, or Jim Clark's or any number of folks that have the same sort of racing background. They all seemed to do ok...

With the IRL adding circuit/street venues, and with that series being no better (or worse) off than the other series, the IRL would appear to be just as viable an option. Further, you already have someone with Red Bull money (R. Doornbos) in CC with essentially the same background as Speed (lighter on the F1 race starts, for sure) who could easily be considered for the NHL ride.

I don't recall seeing anywhere that Speed has ruled out ovals or even commented on them one way or the other.

[Alwaysfirst]

He hasn't ruled out doing ovals (I think) but he has always said that Champ Car is what he wants to do after F1. I've no preference either way personally-it's just what he's said.

[luke]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

We didn't know if ovals would be CDM's cup of tea, or Mansell's or Emerson's or Bourdais', or Cheever's, or Helio's, or Graham Hill's, or Jim Clark's or any number of folks that have the same sort of racing background. They all seemed to do ok...

The difference is there was just one series then or the IRL wasn't popular or was still all oval. In the pre split days CART had just around 5 or 6 ovals and post split around 50% of the schedule. The IRL was all oval still and not as exposed as it is now. Now CC is all non oval currently and Scott has come from a non oval background strictly road course and he has seen what others from F1 have done this year in CC and that is win, be a contender and do well. Doornbos is one example.

With the IRL adding circuit/street venues, and with that series being no better (or worse) off than the other series, the IRL would appear to be just as viable an option. Further, you already have someone with Red Bull money (R. Doornbos) in CC with essentially the same background as Speed (lighter on the F1 race starts, for sure) who could easily be considered for the NHL ride.

The other difference from what we know as of now Scott hasn't been approached by any IRL teams, but has had a firm interest from NHL in CC. He could wind up somwhere else in CC if that isn't possible.

I don't recall seeing anywhere that Speed has ruled out ovals or even commented on them one way or the other.

I never said he ruled out IRL. On a SPEED article around Lond Beach 2006 he said Champ Car is a series he'd like to race in after he was done with Formula 1. He has mentioned nothing yet about the IRL but he has mentioned Champ Car but more specifically he has mentioned he is now focussed on 'America' which means either series.

[nycuk]

[quote=JohnSSC]With Scott announcing his focus on racing opportunities in the US rather than F1, the assumption is he would bring at least some Red Bull $$ with him.
[quote]

According to Scott's website yesterday he had a postive meeting with Herr Mateschitz following the breakdown of his relationship with STR, so it looks like he is still very much a Red Bull man.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

Folks in the CC forum presume that he will of course, end up there.

Who's assuming? Many articles have indicated that his usa options are 'believed' to be in nascar and champ car.

One article even mentioned NHL specifically, so its not to hard to imagine where discussion of CC would have come from.

It seems you were looking for an argument here.

[luke]

Yes quite obvious.

[Knowlesy]

Well, is it such an outrageous suggestion? Scott may well go to IRL? Either series is similar really.

Let's say he had a choice between say (for arguments sake), a Penske IRL ride or a Dale Coyne Champcar. Where would he go?

Also, IRL would offer a different challenge as he is not an oval man. So there is that aspect.

It all depends on circumstances. At the moment, it probably seems he'll go to Champcar, but it is not a foregone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination.

[Bluewolf]

Horrible news!!! He's going to NASCAR -- Ohhhhhhh Nooooooooooooo!!!! Here's the link

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlin...14163710.shtml

[Knowlesy]

Cool.

[NAC]

I feel he will get gobbled up in NASCAR.

Change the title, move the thread

[enemy-ace]

Hopefully for his sake they won't drop him in a CUP seat straightaway like they did with Allmendinger. Especially with a Rookie team to boot.

[luke]

Yep it would be a disaster seeing him out on the side-lines because he didn't qualify. I can see why he is in NASCAR but I would rather have seen him in Champ Car as they need him I think anyway.

Oh well.

[Bluewolf]

Originally Posted by luke

Yep it would be a disaster seeing him out on the side-lines because he didn't qualify. I can see why he is in NASCAR but I would rather have seen him in Champ Car as they need him I think anyway.

Oh well.

Same here - I want to see him in open wheel racing - that's his forte.

[deejay]

Oh good, Nascar needs more Americans.

This is another big hit for AOWR.

[JohnSSC]

One thing at a time...

No, I was not trying to start a fight, I was asking for opinions as I stated in the opening post.

The Speed to NASCAR thing came at me from left field...I really had not even considered it as I am sure some (most?) of you had not either.

Now how he would fit in there is probably being discussed in another thread, but based on how he drove in F1 I would think that he may do ok - not as good as what we are seeing from JPM (diriving for a second-tier team) but maybe not quite as bad as AJ is doing. To be fair to AJ though, no one is doing well in the Toyota. Hopefully that can be remedied for both AJ and Scott's sake.

Another coup for NASCAR as they can advertise that the best drivers in the world come to that Series...however you view Speed's talent, for PR purposes having JPM go to NASCAR, having Speed (so far as we know) going to NASCAR from F1 rather than open wheel and having AJ leave open wheel...it is a PR person's dream.

And Open Wheel's nightmare...

[ThePenguin]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

To be fair to AJ though, no one is doing well in the Toyota. Hopefully that can be remedied for both AJ and Scott's sake.

Because of the problems that the Toyotas have been having in their first year in the Nextel Cup, Red Bull Racing will probably be switching to Chevys for next year.

[JohnSSC]

Is that confirmed? I have seen that too, but still in "rumor" form.

[ThePenguin]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

Is that confirmed? I have seen that too, but still in "rumor" form.

It has not yet been confirmed, but it makes a lot of sense and I think that it it will probably happen.

[JohnSSC]

Somewhere in Japan there is probably a figurine of Michael Waltrip hanging in effigy...

[Leighton Irwin]

I thought they were going to put MW in charge of the F1 team. (:

[drdisque]

The money is significantly better in IndyCar than in Champ Car. If he does end up in IndyCar, I'm thinking that would be the only reason why.

[luke]

Originally Posted by drdisque

The money is significantly better in IndyCar than in Champ Car. If he does end up in IndyCar, I'm thinking that would be the only reason why.

But he's going to NASCAR...

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by drdisque

The money is significantly better in IndyCar than in Champ Car. If he does end up in IndyCar, I'm thinking that would be the only reason why.

I guess that depends on who you drive for. I think Bourdais has earnt more than many in the IRL and vice versa.