"Mike P" <privacy@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:625vleF229950U1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> "forty" <cforteR3M0V3@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:625rtqF217p75U20@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > armpit wrote:
> >
> >> You'd think there would be some discussion about which CC teams would
> >> fare well in the IRL, potential rivalries, etc.
> >>
> >
> > I was going to wait until some official words on the deal and the
teams
> > making the transition before asking about this, but since you
mentioned
> > it... ;-)
> >
> > It seems to me that N/H/L will get up to speed quicker than other
teams.
> > They were a force to be reckoned with through the CART years and they
> > haven't forgotten how to race. They have plenty of oval experience
within
> > the organization and seem to be one of the best funded teams in the CC
> > camp. Plus, they have the advantage of having a little bit of
experience
> > with the Dallara-Honda package thanks to their couple runs at Indy. I
> > don't think they'll be in winning form, but they won't stay towards
the
> > back of the pack for too long.
> >
> > Forsythe will likely get up to speed fairly quickly as well for
similar
> > reasons (sans the chassis experience), but I don't think they'll catch
> > N/H/L anytime soon.
> >
> > Overall, allt of the CC teams that come over will have a steep
learning
> > curve with the cars and the ovals. They'll be starting from scratch,
or
> > almost from scratch, going up against teams with many years of
experience
> > with the technical package and venues. All the CC teams will likely be
> > little more than field-fillers in their first season. The 1.5 mile
> > circuits are where they'll be at a huge disadvantage, given that those
> > ovals are so dependent on car setup. CC teams may be able to be more
> > competitive with road and street courses, as well as some of the
shorter
> > ovals and maybe Indy. I don't think we'll see any of them win, but
they
> > should at least be able to stay on the lead lap. Then again, those
Newman
> > Haas folks didn't fare too badly when they ran at Indy...
> >
> > The drivers may struggle a bit. Some of the CC drivers have a handful
of
> > oval experience that could help somewhat, but most of the drivers will
> > have a very steep learning curve. Forsythe should count themselves
lucky
> > to have Paul Tracy onboard, as he's likely the best oval racer
(certainly
> > the most experienced) in the CC camp. Wilson, Servia, and Junkie
should
be
> > OK. Those with little or no oval experience may have a rough time with
it.
> > Some may learn quickly, but I have my reservations. Graham is a big
> > question mark for me, though. He's good, but he's still pretty green.
From
> > what I recall of his career, his first stab at open wheel oval racing
was
> > in Star Mazda at Pikes Peak, where he almost won and soundly out-drove
> > Marco Andretti. Whether that aptitude is still relevant and how well
it
> > shows his adaptability to ovals remains to be seen.
> >
> > Overall, it will be a rough ride this year and probably next year for
the
> > CC teams and drivers. After that, however, I think we might be treated
to
> > some wonderful rivalries. For the time being, though, I think the best
> > rivalry we'll see will be when Danica and Paul Tracy crash eachother
out.
> >
> > Then again, I could be wrong. Very wrong. There are too many question
> > marks and not much sound information to rely on. I cautiously hope
they
do
> > better than I expect.
> >
> > --
> > forty
> >
>
> I was going to type more, but I agree with pretty much all of that. I'd
not
> be *that* surprised if NHL could pull off a win on a street circuit
though
..
> Next year I'd expect it to be back to the 1994 running order - Penske,
NHL,
> Ganassi etc. The top teams and those with money always come to the top,
> whatever series.
>
> Mike
>
AGR, the IRLs winningest team, will continue to dispatch
Penske, CARTs all time winningest team (despite the fact
that Michael Andretti, CARTs all time winningest pilot,
drove for Newman Haas), Ganassi, Rahal, et al, as it has
since the inception of that entity. The cream, again just as
it always has, will continue its inevitable journey to the top.
|
