USF1 is considering some very different drivers for its inaugural F1 season next year.
The team has indicated it is looking at a mix of young American drivers (Jonathan Summerton, Graham Rahal or Ryan Hunter-Reay) alongside a more experienced F1 driver from Europe (Pedro de la Rosa or Alexander Wurz).
Who will they pick? Here’s a look at the contenders and their credentials.
Experience
Pedro de la Rosa
McLaren’s test driver Pedro de la Rosa has said in the past he would like to return to racing, having last competed in F1 in 2006 as a substitute for Juan Pablo Montoya. He scored his only F1 podium in the Hungarian Grand Prix that year.
De la Rosa made his F1 debut with Arrows in 1999, and later drove for Jaguar before joining McLaren’s test team. He tested a Force India last winter (pictures here) as the team entered a technical collaboration with McLaren.
De la Rosa has also been tipped as a candidate for one of the seats at new Spanish team Campos Meta 1.
Alexander Wurz
Like de la Rosa, Wurz has excellent credentials as a test driver and spent several years at McLaren. On his sole appearance for the team as a race driver, at Imola in 2005, he scored a podium (inherited after Jenson Button’s disqualification).
That confirmed in the minds of many thr belief Wurz’s promise had been squandered by Benetton during his tenure with the team from 1997-2000. But his return to racing for Williams in 2007 didn’t deliver the widely-expected results, apart from a third place at Montreal. He quit one race before the end of the season.
At the time of his retirement in 2007 he said he felt the time was right and talked about not wanting to quit before he passed his peak (see the video here). Perhaps a few years away have rekindled the flames.
Wurz had previously been considering an entry of his own, but has revealed the Superfund-backed effort will not be on the grid next year. He is currently Brawn’s test driver.
Youth
Jonathan Summerton
Summerton, 21, raced in Europe from 2005-2007 before money problems forced him to return to America. He began 2009 in Indy Lights and was fifth in the standings after six races but had to step down once again due to shortage of funds.
However he has also been competing in the Atlantics championship where he lies third overall with two wins.
Read more: Jonathan Summerton: F1’s next US star?
Graham Rahal
Rahal, 20, is the son of ex-F1 and Champ Car driver Bobby Rahal. He raced in the final Champ Car series in 2007, and is now in IndyCars.
He won once at St Petersburg last year and a consistent finishing record this year has helped him to eighth in the standings in America’s top single seater championship. But it’s proving increasingly difficult for drivers to make the transition to F1 from Indy Cars.
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Not quite a match on the ‘youth’ front as Summerton and Rahal, the 28 year-old Hunter-Reay has done a lot of racing at Champ Car/Indy Car level since 2003.
He scored a surprise win at Watkins Glen last year, emphasising his road course credentials which make him one of the more promising American prospects not to have a European racing background. He was fourth at Mid-Ohio road course last weekend.
Who do you think USF1 should put in their cars? Have your say in the comments.
More on the 2010 F1 drivers and teams
- One final spot left on the 2010 F1 grid – who could get it and who won’t
- Nico Hulkenberg’s GP2 form points towards 2010 F1 debut for Williams
- Brawn set to extend Button’s contract – but will he get a new team mate?
- 2010 F1 driver market wide open
- Who will get the six new seats in 2010?
- 2010 F1 drivers and teams
JFranti
12th August 2009, 7:17
I’d really like to see Hunter-Reay given a shot. He’s shown some flair, and seems to know how to keep his nose out of trouble. He drove in A1, and has a top ten at the Indy 500. The other two young drivers are far too unseasoned in my opinion to race in F1 in six months time.
Hamish
12th August 2009, 7:50
Not American, but – Scott Dixon
Paige Michael-Shetley
14th August 2009, 18:15
Right on. Dixon is about as good as any driver not currently in F1.
Luke
12th August 2009, 7:58
I thought the whole deal of USF1 was that they were going to use American drivers?
Maybe they have realised they need someone with experience in F1 so someone like Wurz may be a good choice.
Gman
13th August 2009, 2:33
They want to go to an all-American lineup in the second or third year, so I believe you are correct that they should bring in someone like Wurz to start with.
Lustigson
12th August 2009, 7:59
If Sébastien Bourdais would have been a better car developer, I’d go for him. He’s not an American, but at least a well-known name in the US racing scene, being a 4-time CART champion. Ryan Hunter-Reay would be a good US national in the 2nd car. He’s 28 years old, and has quite some single-seater experience. For later seasons, Team US F1 could groom one of the younger American drivers.
JLS
12th August 2009, 12:59
My fantasy line-up would have been the
former STR drivers – Bourdais and Speed.
My other once again is JR Hildebrand.
James G
12th August 2009, 14:13
On the plus side, it’s definitely a fantasy!
Wesley
12th August 2009, 16:20
Bourdais and Speed! OMG NO!…you must not be American or you would want to see drivers that might actually win some races for the team.
Gman
13th August 2009, 2:34
Very good Wesley ;)
Sush Meerkat
12th August 2009, 8:11
I’d like to see Rahal, he’s a canny racer for such a young kid.
Steve K
12th August 2009, 8:26
Hunter-Reay. The guy is fearless, and has had much success. The problem is he has always been on teams with money problems. He drove for Bobby Rahal’s team last year and did great, but then the money dried up and the team folded. He didnt land an IndyCar ride until just before the start of the season, and that was helped by the fact that he had a contract with IZOD and IRL head man at the time kind of had to put him on his team. He is now driving for AJ Foyt. . .on second thought, if he drives for USF1, the team is done in two years. . .maybe he is bad luck?
Rahal needs to win at Indy before he is allowed to leave IndyCar.
Wild Thing
12th August 2009, 8:32
I’d like to see Kyle Busch given a shot.
YeaMon
12th August 2009, 19:01
Why? The punk cries when he gets 2nd, imagine what would happen if he gets on an up and coming team? Not to mention he completely destroys race cars.
ColoradoF1
12th August 2009, 23:19
“The punk cries when he gets 2nd, imagine what would happen if he gets on an up and coming team?”
Maybe it’s just me, but that’s an attitude you see a lot in F1, and not just from drivers. Busch, has he ever drive an open wheel car?
Gman
13th August 2009, 2:38
He wanted to test a Toyota F1 car in Japan at the end of last year’s NASCAR season, and had the whole thing arranged according to reports. Then, NASCAR prevented him from doing the test because he was “required” to attend the awards banquet for the NASCAR Nationwide Series. It resulted in a very frustrated Kyle making one of the best quotes of the motorspoirt year by saying in a childlike fashion “They (NASCAR) took the F1 car away from me….”
Other than that, I don’t know if eh has any open-wheel experience. I know most of his work in lower series was on dirt-track ovals, if that helps ;)
yeang
12th August 2009, 8:46
i’d love to see montoya back – after all the time he’s spent racing in the us, he’s almost an american isn’t he? not sure about his technical, car-developing skills… and the fact he hasn’t driven f1 since 2006. but i’ve always remembered him as an aggressive-overtaking-fun-to-watch driver.
Hamish
12th August 2009, 8:58
Yea I’m with you on that. In a day and age where F1 is a young europeans gentlemens club Montoya was somewhat of a breath of fresh air to the sport. He wasn’t a 55kg shy kid continually thanking his sponsors due to his future relying on their financial backing, he was a driver who spoke his mind and let his natural driving ability create the opportunities that were presented to him. Its due to the lack of drivers like Montoya that F1 can be percieved as boring. The current drivers simply have no personalities, therefore nothing of any appeal to joe average sitting in front of the TV. Montoyas departure from the sport clearly showed that gone are the days where he with the biggest balls, most confidence and natural driving talent excels. These are currently the days where technology and corporate involvement take priority.
Nirupam
12th August 2009, 10:24
Could not agree more on this!
I would love to see Montoya back.
m0tion
12th August 2009, 10:53
I think Montoya is among the best natural drivers and the equal of Schumacher in the car. He flamed out at NASCAR just 2 races ago when they denied him the win with a pit speeding drive through and he was adamant that he wasn’t speeding and that NASCAR management sabotaged his win due to his being a foreigner. But he ain’t 55kg anymore and he torched the relationship with Bernie as well as Ron.
Brian
12th August 2009, 15:39
he is not fit enough to an F1 driver anymore.
1994fanatic
12th August 2009, 15:39
Yeah he likes the american buffett, his belly is quite a bit bigger. Atleast he would still have the jaw muscles for f1.
Geopdx
13th August 2009, 3:52
JPM is getting a little to fat to fit into an F1 car and almost seemed to beg to get out of his contract when he left. He and SebBo, and Nelsino all seemed to burn bridges upon their departure.
My dream team would be Jacques Villenuve and Rossi. An American and a Canadian, Someone with experience winning and someone young who has raced in Europe and had won the BMW america series.
Adrian
12th August 2009, 8:51
On the Experienced Driver front, I would think that Rubens Barrichello has to be under consideration for USF1, he has the plus of being from (South) America too. I can’t see BrawnGP retaining him for next year as I expect them to sign up a youngster to partner Jenson.
m0tion
12th August 2009, 10:56
Rubens played golf in the US with them across last summer and I thought he was a certainty but my girlfriend is Brazilian & follows him on twitter and she sees no sign of him going to USF1.
PDLR would be the best “experienced” buy they could make otherwise for mine.
Gman
13th August 2009, 2:41
Yeah, but he’s not exactly the most humble guy- see: Germany 2009 ;) That’s the good thing about Wurz and PDR- from what I know, they are quiet and well-liked guys with little to no ego.
Shevon
12th August 2009, 8:53
What about Scott Speed, he wasnt a bad driver in his time with red Bull…kinda always in the midlle somewhere.
marc
12th August 2009, 9:02
i say pick Pedro de la Rosa for the experienced f1 driver and Ryan Hunter-Reay as a experience racer in other series
Shevon
12th August 2009, 9:08
No one is even talking about Ryan Briscoe or Marco Andretti thase guys got some talent and are young with much potential to improve.
Tim
12th August 2009, 10:03
Ryan Briscoe is Australian so doesn’t really fit the young Amercian driver requirement…
Clay
12th August 2009, 9:09
Kyle Busch is an awesome choice. Anyone who wants to watch the best pass by anyone I’ve seen this year, watch the Nationwide series race just gone at Watkin’s Glen. His pass on Carl Edwards for second with about 6 laps to go is breathtaking…
So who would I partner him with? Someone experienced from Indycar. Speed (I know, he’s in NASCAR) is an obvious choice as he has recent F1 experience, but he’s slow. The candidates would be Franchitti (old and scottish, but married to an American actress and been in the US scene for ages), Castroneves (not American either but quick on ‘proper’ race tracks), Briscoe (another non US driver but been in the US scene for a while, a good racer and has recent F1 experience being Toyota’s test driver), Dixon (Indy 500 winner but a kiwi, still the man to beat in Indycar), or Danica.
Rahal would be the test driver, along with Montoya. As there is no testing during the year, JPM might be lured out of retirement from F1 to test the new car and give feedback.
So in short, race drivers Kyle Busch and Danica Patrick (or Briscoe should Danica come good on her promise not to race F1), Rahal as test and reserve driver, JPM as development driver in the winter.
m0tion
12th August 2009, 10:58
Kyle wants the money honey. He runs both series in NASCAR and USF1 would have no chance of getting near the dollar needed.
Eric
12th August 2009, 13:17
Kyle Busch and Danica Patrick? Are you serious? Do you ever watch them race or do you just read their press? NO NASCAR driver has the talent to make the jump to F1 NONE. And Danica? she is at best a mid pack IRL driver, and that is not saying much if you have watched an IRL race. She is THE MOST OVER RATED DRIVER IN THE WORLD!
donwatters
12th August 2009, 15:50
Au Contrere. Jeff Gordon did very well in a Williams at Indy a number of years ago. He was very close to JPM’s times with little or no experience with either the track or the car.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th August 2009, 20:19
Gordon began his career in single-seaters though, didn’t he? I agree he was quite impressive.
Filipe
13th August 2009, 1:58
Yes, Gordon started in single seaters. He was very successful in regional series and tried to go to Cart, some claim he actually only attempted Penske and Newman-Haas, others says smaller this told him to bring sponsors.
Gordon’s Williams test was pretty good. Very similar to Loeb’s test this year. Later last year he went to Massa’s kart race. Gordon had never raced a kart before and run among the backmarkers. Some snobs joked about the nascar guy being very slow, but he was actually 4 seconds off pace everyone else in Friday practice and was running as well as anyone else He might have not been very competitive but anyone that can find 4 seconds in a weekend in a type of car he never raced has some talent.
Gman
13th August 2009, 2:47
Gordon dose indeed have some talent that would have been good in F1- he’s one of the best road course racers on the NASCAR circuit today. From repoerts I have sene he had some semi-serious discussions with BAR back in the mid/late 90’s about pairing up with JV, but obviously diden’t take it. Probably for the better, as the BAR outfit back then wasen’t a very reliable operation…
William Wilgus
13th August 2009, 0:07
Who as of the last info I have, happens to be 5th in the championship standings—ahead of her 2 team-mates.
Clay
13th August 2009, 12:02
OK Danica may not be as quick as some, but for a new team she would bring in massive sponsorship dollars and immediately give team massive exposure. Regardless of who USF1 end up with their car will not be competitive for about 5 years anyway, so why not run her?
And have YOU actually watched Busch race? At least the guy would have a bit of personality…
Eric
14th August 2009, 13:04
If you call whining like a little girl personality. Maybe you didn’t see his comment about F1. When asked about F1 he said “well the racing isn’t very good over there” and went on to say when he tests for Toyota and they offer him an F1 ride (think he was a little ahead of himself) he would not take it because he would wait for Ferrari or McLaren to offer him a drive. WHAT AN ASS
JackB
12th August 2009, 9:58
Villeneuve was making some noises about next year as well, I know he’s not very good or American but he might be a more attractive option for sponsors than de la Rosa or Wurz.
Brian
12th August 2009, 15:42
As much as I like JV, he is passed his prime, and he knows it. He can barely drive a NASCAR car anymore.
Pete Walker
12th August 2009, 10:03
I’d love to see JPM come back. I know he had too many off days late in his F1 career, but on the days he was switched on he was monstrous. I still think he has wins left in him and a driver from South America seems a better fit with the team’s ethos than a European.
For the other seat, the name that seems to pop up most often is Summerton. I remember watching A1GP’s Zandvoort round and the USA car running at the front after staying out on dry tyres on a damp track. Was that Summerton? It was pretty heroic stuff…
Gman
13th August 2009, 2:51
Ehhh if it was this most season, it was Marco Andretti. If it was the previous season, it was former Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice. Summerton diden’t join the team until later in the 2007-08 season
He still had plenty of good drives, however, esp. towards the end of the season.
ajokay
12th August 2009, 10:16
From those on the list, I’d like to see Alex Wurz in one car, as he’s always been a favourite of mine. I like his style, he was never afraid of a wheel-to-wheel battle. I seem to remember him dicing with Schumacher at a Monaco race in the late 90’s. He also throws up the devil horns whenever he’s on the podium. Rock on! Plus i share my first name with him, so, Go Alex!
Plus Pedro has a shot at the Campos seat, so we could see both of them in F1 next year that way.
Of the other 3, I think it would be most sensible for USF1 to give the 2nd seat to Ryan Hunter-Reay. Never heard of him, but he seems to have the most experience, which would be far more beneficial.
With regards to Jonathan Summerton, surely if he was that good, he wouldn’t keep running out of sponsorship money.
Gman
13th August 2009, 2:52
With SUmmerton, it happens to the best of drivers in all racing series. SOmetimes it’s related to financial decisions with the sponsors themselves and not anything to do with the skills of the drivers.
yeang
12th August 2009, 10:50
just a random thought – if marco andretti were to get the drive, he’d be the first grandson of an ex-champion to race in f1 wouldn’t he?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th August 2009, 20:20
Yeah I think so.
Ronman
12th August 2009, 10:57
I think Wurz or Bourdais for Experience,
Graham RAhal is a good name for no experience, or if they want to stretch the American idea Brunno Senna or any other south american with racing credentials could do the job
Matt
12th August 2009, 11:12
Me :)
Adrian
12th August 2009, 11:56
Well by that same token…
Me!!
Though I’m neither American or experienced so that might hurt my chances…
Glenn
12th August 2009, 11:55
For the “American Youth” seat, keep Alexander Rossi in mind – 2008 Formula BMW World Champion
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th August 2009, 20:21
Rossi’s definitely one for the future, give him a couple of years – F3 and GP2 ideally. Looking pretty good in Formula Master this year.
DGMandell
13th August 2009, 0:04
Alexander Rossi and Scott Speed would be the best lineup. Scott has the experience and Rossi has the potential. The other river that might make sense – although he’s sunken into the NASCAR Morass is AJ Almendinger.
As much as I’d like to see Rahal, Hunter-Reay, or even Townsend Bell, I just don’t think they can step up to the level needed fast enough.
Rabi
12th August 2009, 12:13
I don’t think Rahal would make the jump just yet so my choices would be:
Experienced Driver
1) Montoya
2) Bourdais
Young Driver
1) Ryan Hunter-Reay
2) AJ Allmendinger
Chalky
12th August 2009, 13:03
I would say Pedro de la Rosa unless he ends up at Campos?
Then Ryan Hunter-Reay.
If you can’t get de la Rosa then probably Wurz.
Like A Cow's Opinion: It's Moo
12th August 2009, 13:46
What’s Justin Wilson up to these days?
Would he consider returning to F1 or is he doing too well for it to be worth his while?
Prisoner Monkeys
12th August 2009, 14:07
I’m thinking maybe Wurz and Summerton. Adrian Campos seems to be gunning for Pedro de la Rosa, and I think de la Rosa would like the idea of being a Spanish driver in a Spanish team. For Summerton, the Formula Atlantic series is run entirely on road courses, unlike IndyCar, which I think gives him more credibility than Rahal (who isn’t much of a team leader, and it’s clear USF1 would be grooming their rookie driver to one day lead the team) and Hunter-Reay (who seems too old to be making his debut).
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th August 2009, 20:22
I seem to remember Peter Windsor writing praiseworthy things about Wurz in his F1 Racing columns.
Prisoner Monkeys
13th August 2009, 0:38
It’s better than some of the ridiculous suggestions I’ve heard elsewhere on the internet. People think a Scott Speed-Sebastien Bourdais lineup is a real possibility; I say that’ll happen only if Windsor and Anderson are masochistic. Who in their right mind would put two of the most underperforming – and difficult to deal with – drivers in perfectly good race seats?
Dr Jones
12th August 2009, 14:28
Bring back Scott Speed! :)
Lauro
12th August 2009, 14:32
What about Will Power? He did a few good runs in road courses this year in IRL.
nelson db
12th August 2009, 14:32
Many of these youngster could have some problem in term of FIA super-licence..
I really don’t think Montoya would come back in f1, except in a top team and this won’t be the case.
Usf1 is still a mystery, maybe they’ve found you tube’s money but the staff in every order is inadequate.. they absolutely need an experieced driver, and with de la rosa probably with campos the only one interested seems wurz. but i think they’ll be competing only with manor and campos next year..
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th August 2009, 20:22
Given how often he talks about going to McDonalds in his Twitter feed, I doubt it…
Brian
12th August 2009, 15:47
Remember something. BMW is gone next year which means that one of their “experienced” drivers has to go somewhere.
If USF1 can, then the will get someone that is already in F1 to be their “experienced” driver.
Kovi is probably done at McLaren.
RAI is leaving Ferrari(of course USF1 would have to convince him to stay in F1)
Kubica will probably go to McLaren
Heidfeld or Kovi will end being USF1’s “experienced” driver.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th August 2009, 20:22
That’s a very good point – either driver would be a great pick.
Wesley
13th August 2009, 0:53
To see Heidfeld go to USF1 would be my wish.
I think Rosberg and Kovi will end up switching seats.
Gman
13th August 2009, 2:57
As a McLaren fan who is also behind USF1, I would love to see Heikki keep his seat but I doubt it. In that case, seeing he or Heidfeld at USF1 would be great.And Kubica at McLaren would be fantastic, absolutley fantastic!!
But the best one you’ve got there is Raikkonen at USF1….hilarious to think about, but Anderson/Windsor would never do it.
DMW
12th August 2009, 16:17
JPM likes be home when his kids arrive from school. He ain’t coming back. But I too would like another F1 driver who isn’t some boring corporate spokesmodel. That guy may be Speed. I think he did OK vis a vis Luizzi. He was OK in GP2. He is the only American who knows the circuits, the people, and who we know can hack the lifestyle.
Forget about Marco A., Patrick, Hunter-Reay, etc. Beating a bunch of guys a couple times on road course who came up racing “midgets” on ovals is not a good credential. Marco would sell tickets to a U.S. GP like crazy, but he would not be stellar.
I favor pairing Speed with De La Rosa or Wurz. i.e., someone who can develop the car and who doesn’t have an epic ego. And we know De La Rosa, for example, knows something about tire-gasses and floors.
Wesley
13th August 2009, 0:58
“And we know De La Rosa, for example,knows something about tire-gasses and floors.”
LOL!
Filipe
13th August 2009, 1:12
The only driver in IRL that came trough racing midgets is Ed Carpenter. Of the 5 full-time american drivers in the series I’d say both Marco and Hunter-Reay drives better in road courses than ovals and Graham is even (and that’s more because he does some very stupid GP2-like mistakes). Actually the worst drop in performance from ovals to road courses there is probably british Dan Wheldon who should be poster boy on how too much oval racing makes one unlearn how to turn right.
Gman
13th August 2009, 3:01
I think you’re a bit off on Speed being the only guy suited to the F1 circus- SUmmerton raced in Europe for several years, including F3 Euroseries in 2006 alongside many of the young stars either in F1 or primed for a seat. After that he was in A1GP and did races at Sepang and Shanghai- the latter is his favorite track outside the USA, don’t ask why……
Finally, his years in Formula BMW Americas put him at Montreal, Indianapolis, and Mexico City, among others. SO he’s probably coming in with more international experience than the average F1 rookie.
Byron R
12th August 2009, 16:30
Montoya would be great. He’s American , South American :). Quite a few younger talents in the Stars of Karting. That would be a surprise.
Brian
12th August 2009, 19:00
Would everyone just forget about Montoya!!! He is nobody. He isn’t even that good in NASCAR. Not too mention that he has pretty much alread said that he hates F1 and will never return.
F1 magazine interviewed him last year and he gave absolutely no indication that he would ever drive in F1 again. He doesn’t want to, and he won’t.
He is an arrogant, self righteous sob.
I’m sorry for sounding off but I’m tired of reading people praising this guy like he was some sort of god. He isn’t, so just forget about him, he forgot about F1 and he forgot all of you.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th August 2009, 20:24
I enjoyed Montoya’s time in F1, but he probably hit his peak in CART where he had some seriously impressive races. I don’t think F1 was right for him or vice-versa – I’d love to see him back in IndyCars.
jess
12th August 2009, 21:38
My vote is for Jonathan Summerton.
William Wilgus
13th August 2009, 0:40
I can’t remember his name, but I read about a boy (& his brother) who’s dad was in the racing business here in the U.S. & the boy was into racing Karts—and they had their own track in their back yard in Arizona / Utah. When the boy turned 17, he went into pro sports cars (perhaps the ALMS series?) & won the championship that year (his first). Can’t help thinking he’d be a good candidate. Can someone supply his name / series / current status?
Gman
13th August 2009, 3:12
Great to see so many comments and discussion on some good, talented Americans who may finally get a shot at the big time :)
Any of the three young Americans would be good, but my first wish is Summerton- he’s a great guy to talk with and work with (read my interview for proof) and he’s raced at many current and recent F1 venues around the globe. Rahal and Hunter-Reay are also good- I believe RHR has a personal sponsorship deal with Izod, so that may be a factor as well.
Either of the experienced guys mentioned would be good, I would also love to see Heikki if he dosen’t get retained at Mclaren, but too many people may misspell his last name ;) In any event, I am looking forward to the whole thing, and to the other team’s driver announcements as well.
The sri lankan
14th August 2009, 1:34
Danica wont survive in F1. Go on gimme a bash .im not sayingf this becasuse shes a woman but loking at her racing records. this is a fact.
dsob
14th August 2009, 8:19
I won’t “bash” you for your remarks. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
But if you want to talk race records, let’s do just that. Let’s compare with other younger IRL drivers.
Ryan Hunter-Reay has been mentioned quit a bit. In 3 IRL seasons he has 35 races, no poles, 1 win, 2 podiums, 13 top tens. He was IRL and Indy 500 Rookie of the Year for 2007.
Marco Andretti in 4 IRL seasons has 60 races, 1 pole, 1 win, 7 podiums, 22 top tens. He was IRL and Indy 500 Rookie of the Year for 2006.
I believe Ryan Briscoe was also mentioned. In 5 years with IRL, he has 49 starts, with 7 poles, 4 wins, 9 podiums, 27 top tens.
Danica Patrick has 5 years with IRL, and in 77 races has claimed 3 poles, 1 win, 4 podiums and 40 top tens.
Numbers aren’t everything, of course, but in this case they tell us that from this list Briscoe and Patrick are the best so far. Briscoe has a history of many “Not Classified” though, seeming to follow the “checkers or wreckers” school of driving. With 40 top tens/5 podium finishes in 77 starts Patrick is the more consistent of the two.
Patrick currently lies 5th in IRL championship points. Ryan Briscoe has had an awesome season so far(logging 2 of his 4 wins and 5 of his 9 podiums) and is second in points.
From this, I’d say that if an USF1 driver were to come from IRL, it should be either Patrick or Briscoe. But the odds of Patrick leaving IRL, I think, are small. She does, after all, own equity in her #7 team, and seems happy where she is.
I didn’t do stats for drivers from other series who were mentioned, as it isn’t an even comparison. But I don’t feel that Montoya, Speed, or several of the others mentioned are good choices for USF1.
And Wurz? I’d love him to be on my team, but in charge of engineering and setup, not in a seat. Wurz has probably more miles in an F1 car in testing than any other driver ever. That sort of experience would be valuable on car setup, for certain. But are we 100% certain that he’s given up on Superfund ?
Anyway, my thoughts, for what it’s worth.
Rich
14th August 2009, 6:58
Both team principals seem like straight shooters, which seems unusual in F1 these days. If they don’t stick to their published intent to run only American drivers I’ll be very disappointed in them.
pitt layne
14th August 2009, 7:29
The only American qualified right now is Speed. Anyone else would need development time. At least a full season. If it aint an American driver why bother. No other team would field a Yank these days considering recent results. USF1 has to be “all in” in this. Just get someone decent and marketable. Let them develop. Otherwise this will never happen. Just like Healthcare Reform. And, have some other American drivers waiting in the wings like Torro Rosso. Third drivers, testers, G
P2, whatever. There needs to be a pipeline for the flow to begin.
The Limit
15th August 2009, 5:55
I would love to see a driver from NASCAR and the IRL take up the positions at USF1. This would certainly generate interest in America and would also determine how drivers from two very different series would fare. I really don’t think that Scott Speed is an option that would create major interest. Juan Montoya certainly will never drive an F1 car again, and alot of the IRL stable have been overlooked by Formula One.
Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti, both European drivers with tons of experience and championships to prove it, but never given an F1 opportunity. Justin Wilson and Robert Doornbos, both ex F1 backmarkers long since forgotten in European race circles. So if its going to be anybody, my money will be on a young racer few people have considered.
Marco Andretti? Quite possibly a consideration. The Andretti name, along with Foyt, without doubt the most legendary name in American open wheel racing. Would cause a stir.
As for NASCAR? A.J Almendinger, young guy, heavily connected with Red Bull, the very same people who are bankrolling Scott Speed’s career. Alot more likely than Kyle Busch, who still wants to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship I would wager, locked in a contract so lucrative only a fool would walk away from. I think its a given that no ‘major’ NASCAR stars are going to jump ship, purely because they are on so much money that leaving would prove too much of a risk.
The failure in F1 of Bourdais for example has not gone unnoticed in America, and he won four Champcar titles!
No, its going to be two young pups, thats for sure.
AP
15th August 2009, 15:08
I said it in another thread but maybe a driver that races in a US based series might be good enough qualification…
If they wanted a bolt out of the blue Marcos Ambrose
has raced against Button, Kimi and the like…
Is the best road racer in nascar at the moment, beating Montoya, Speed, Almeninger etc
no he is not American but is well know in US thru nascar.
1998
A move to the UK followed in 1998 with competition in the British Formula Ford Championship with the Van Diemen Team, and a fifth placed finish for the year.
1999
Won the coveted European Formula Ford Championship in 1999, and placed third in the British Formula Ford Championship as well that year.
2000
Raced in the French Formula 3 competition before withdrawing mid-season and hooking up with Alan Docking Racing for the concluding rounds of the British Formula 3 series.
Montoya back would be great but it wont happen.
Kyle Bush, this guy has talent, and while I am not usually this kind with nascar drivers, I think this kid would excel in any thing with a motor.
Danica Patrick would bring in $$ but she would embarrass herself and that would put a dent in her career so I cant see her taking that risk.
Scott Dixon, Will Power, or Ryan Briscoe would also be great options again there all Aust / NZ they are know in US thru the domestic series.
Don Ho
20th August 2009, 22:40
Alexander Rossi, certainly a good driver and has the desire for F1. I would seriously consider him before another team takes the chance. 10 Wins in 2008, testing with BMW Sauber (defunct), and California born American.
Ryan
16th October 2009, 6:51
Scott Speed shouldn’t be counted out, seeing that he has F1 experience… but I think the Red Bull team put a sour taste in his mouth for F1. He probably wants to continue his fruitless pursuit for a NASCAR crown. It’s really tough to stick with American drivers only.
Why not have one American driver at first? If so, Scott Dixon, Will Pwoer, Dario Franchitti, or Sebastian Bourdais would be good candidates. Especially Will Power, if he can recover from his injuries before then.