Busch, Allmendinger on F1 Team's Radar

Racing series around the world are feeling a growing hole in their wallets thanks to this ol' economy, but that's no matter for a group out of Charlotte, N.C., that's looking to join up with pricey Formula 1.

The upstart -- their taking "USF1" as their working team name -- is aiming to have an American operation field two American drivers in F1 in the near future, and Tuesday, they discussed some drivers -- including a pair of NASCAR names -- they might interested in.

Some of those wheelmen (and a wheel lady, mind you) seem like logical targets, but the others? Well, not so much.

The team, which had started earning a spot on the media map a month or so ago, officially opened up during a televised unveiling at SPEED's brand spankin'-new studios on the north side of Charlotte -- a city that will also double as the team's world headquarters.

F1 television broadcaster Peter Windsor and engineer Ken Anderson -- he formerly worked at the former Haas-CNC Racing in the NASCAR world -- will serve as the team's principles. SPEED's Tom Jensen has plenty of the details they chose to announce Tuesday -- like how it plans to have a fan-friendly facility similar to NASCAR shops and that it will purchase engines instead of build their own -- over on his article about it.

As for those drivers the group is aiming for, they seem to be a collection of drivers with talent and drivers with appeal.

For starters, A.J. Allmendinger, Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick were all explicitly named as candidates.

Allmendinger, of course, is running a partial schedule at the moment in the Sprint Cup Series with Richard Petty Motorsports and has shown signs of tremendous improvement since his rookie stock car season. Prior to NASCAR, he was quite successful in a brief foray with the now-defunct Champ Car.

Andretti -- the son of Michael Andretti and grandson of Mario, each of open-wheel fame -- has been participating full-time in the IRL IndyCar Series since 2006 and has a single win in the series. His grandfather told the AP today that if he could "design" the F1 driver of today, Marco would be it.

Patrick, of course, won her first IndyCar race in 2008 amid being the face of the series for many of past few seasons. Her contract is up with Andretti-Green Racing at the end of 2009 and told the Indianapolis Star today that F1 isn't "No. 1" on her list, but that a "conversation never killed anyone" after being asked about her name being rumored for the pair of rides.

Later, as FanHouse's Holly Cain reported from the IndyCar Spring Training at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida, she was a little more non-committal:

"I'm very flattered to be thought of, for sure. ... Formula One is a very competitive platform, but I don't necessarily know why no one ever spoke to me,'' Patrick said Tuesday after the team mentioned her as a potential driving candidate. "It's not like they contacted me and I gave them the 'oh yeah, that sounds very interesting.' I never heard from anyone.''

Additionally, Marco Andretti seemed a little shocked that his grandfather would make such a presumption.

"It would be risky because it's such a new team, that's all I would say,'' Andretti, 21, said, brushing off the question on his way into a drivers meeting before practice.

NASCAR's hottest young driver at the moment -- the "Shrub" Kyle Busch -- was listed as a "shoo-in" (or is that, shoe-in?) for the ride by Motor Authority, and they also mentioned driver Conor Daly, son of broadcaster and former driver Derek Daly.

Obviously, this new team has a multitude of forces going against it in order to actually get a team on track for 2010, but its certainly interesting to see the names that pop up as candidates.

To me, Kyle Busch -- despite lacking open-wheel experience -- has the most raw talent of the group and I'd probably put Allmendinger in second place. As for Danica and Andretti, its pretty doggone tough to claim they have credentials to prove capability for an F1 ride with just two total wins in major auto racing between them.

Regardless, I'll certainly be following this story sheerly on the fact that Windsor and Anderson plan to run the operation in a completely different manner than all the other F1 hoopla we've seen. That in itself, I think, will make this program a fun one to watch.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

2-24-2009 @ 5:59PM

Bob said...

I'm afraid I don't get your reasoning for the drivers' qualifications (or lack thereof). Indy cars are clearly the most similar vehicles to Formula cars, and both Danica and Marco have proven themselves to be competitive in them. Frankly, you sound more than a little biased towards NASCAR drivers. Regardless, that team has their work cut out for them--for whatever reason, Americans traditionally have not done well in F1. It would be great to have a competitive U.S. team in that league.

2-25-2009 @ 12:57AM

CJ said...

I know it's a long shot, but i wish they would take Kyle Busch. I wouldnt have to hear his smartass comments anymore and they'd finally shut up about how young he is and how mature he is for his age, when he's far from it. Send him to F1 and get him the hell out of the real American sport altogether. I'd like to see a REAL respectable driver back in the 18 car like the one they had when Bobby Labonte drove that car. To see Elliott Sadler, Jamie McMurray, or Martin Truex Jr would be a great move on both Gibbs and one of those drivers parts, but i wouldnt be suprised if by some long shot Kyle did leave, if they would go after Kurt to replace him. I dont see any of the Nascar drivers leaving, including AJ, but i think it would be a great opportunity who would like to put more stock in their name who really is under the radar, but i dont see Marco or Danica taking that ride either.

2-25-2009 @ 6:47PM

Bernie said...

CJ,

Kyle Busch might be a smart ass, a punk, or whatever anyone can say to trash his integrity but that kid has more raw driving skills in one hand than any of the drivers in your preffered replacement list have in their whole bodies... Tell you how good! Paint a car black, paint Goodrich on the side of it, put any number you want on it! Thats how good...Lets just wait and see!

2-25-2009 @ 1:23AM

hafttwo said...

well said and let them take toiletta with them too

2-25-2009 @ 2:50AM

Don Emerson said...

I can't believe you'd include Elliot Sadler in a group of great drivers that any team would be lucky to have. He hasn't shown squat behind the wheel, and is lucky to even have a ride. You trashed an otherwise interesting comment by even mentioning his name. Tsk...tsk...shame on you. Works for me..

2-25-2009 @ 4:21AM

demzrdopes said...

danica patrick? please. you better cash in on that body while you can toots, because at some point gravity will take over..I'd put Juan Pablo in that bad boy..

2-25-2009 @ 6:38AM

xwingz2 said...

Hmmm...seems like we are forgetting the most obvious, and only proven F1 driver in NASCAR.

I am not sure the Indy Car Group or NASCAR guys who mostly scare themselves to death on a road course would do well at Silverstone or Monte Carlo!

Then again, we are Americans and we will do anything for a laugh!

2-25-2009 @ 7:18AM

jmkjr72 said...

let them take rowdy bush

i would love to see whats not left of an f1 car after he got behind the wheel

2-25-2009 @ 4:26PM

Gene51 said...

Kyle has the 18 car running up front again. He has the talant to be among the greatest Nascar drivers. Leave him alone so he can do his job. Kyle i beleave has a good chance to be division champ in at least two divisions in 2009.

2-25-2009 @ 10:17AM

illsell4u said...

While it would be nice to see ole Shrub go away, why would any of the TOP Nascar drivers go to F1? While it pains to say this, I must say I think he would in no time be one of the best there is in F1. I would see it as career suicide to disappear into the oblivion of F1. While attendence is down at Nascar have you ever seen more than a few thousand people at an F1 race?
MBL
CJ, Elliot Sadler? You were kidding, right?

2-25-2009 @ 11:08AM

Why is everybody questioning about Sadler? I think he's a pretty good driver, he's just had lousy equipment. There has always only been one dominant car at Evernham/Gillette/Petty Motorsports and it was the 9 at first with Bill Elliott, then 19 with Mayfield for a short time, and it's been the 9 for the past few years, and even last year when he won a couple races, Kahne has still been pretty pathetic and as much as i like the Dodge name, right now in Nascar a Dodge ride is the worst to be in this season, especially in the Cup series. Elliott Sadler has won races and has been in the Chase so he's shown sparks of having the talent, unfortunately he was with Yates on the down fall which was a great move to leave Yates, just a poor move to go to what was Evernham at the time. I think if Sadler was with a top team such as Gibbs or RCR then you'd see different results. He's done better than alot of drivers out there who believe are top drivers. He's done better than David Ragan, Brian Vickers, and Casey Mears.

2-25-2009 @ 12:53PM

I will make an effort to pay close attention to Sadler this year, but somoetimes it is hard when they do not show the drivers in the back half very much. Having had family in Emporia and South Hill I am familiar with his roots. If he manages to hold his current #11 position we should see more of him.
You made the same arguement the green horde made for three years about equipment. "If he had better equipment he would be a better driver and win Championships." Has moving to Hendrick helped their driver?
MBL

2-25-2009 @ 1:18PM

chrisp tha ghost said...

CJ, delete yourself. Your credibility is laughable.

2-25-2009 @ 2:28PM

Hey xwingz, next time you may actually want to give the NAME of your "obvious" choice--I'm assuming you meant Montoya? I do agree with your assessment about the tracks that curve both directions--so much of the racing in America is built around tracks that only turn to the left. That's one of the reasons why Formula One puts themselves above other series, because you have to master an extremely powerful, light, and twitchy racecar around courses with many completely different curves in BOTH directions. Look how many teams in NASCAR still use "hired guns" to get past the roadcourses. Do I think F1 has BETTER drivers? No, but they have a more complete set of skills, which could be developed by other top drivers, such as those in NASCAR. Question is, can they master them quickly enough to have a competitive career in F1?

2-25-2009 @ 3:57PM

james said...

dale jr. is the best choice he is the greatest racecar driver to ever get behind the wheel of a car

2-25-2009 @ 4:14PM

GrumpyOldMan said...

This will never happen. It's all talk. You just don't show up at an F-1 race and try to qualify. You have to buy your way in. And the amount of money needed to just run a team is staggering. Not gonna happen.

2-25-2009 @ 6:16PM

To Grumpy, you are so right about the money in F1. I've seen the figures before, and they make the other racing series' budgets look like go-cart racers. It's insane the amount of money the Europeans et al put into it--no wonder there are usually only about 15 competitive teams per season. Our guys have their hands full.

2-25-2009 @ 7:32PM

Kim said...

Gotta agree with those who say "won't happen." Personally, I didn't even realize that F1 was still around. It's not popular anymore, very rarely televised and its fan base is dwindeling fast.

If it were a possiblity however, I would love to see Dannica Patrick go away. I think she is beautiful, which isn't the problem. The problem is she thinks so, too. I had a TON of respect for Ms. Patrick and gave her mad props until she decided to go down that road a woman in her position should not have gone down. What's that you ask? The sex card game. She has started taking her clothes off and modeling in skimpy outfits. While nice for all to look at, her credibility as "just one of the guys" is now shot with me and others, too I am sure. I find it very depressing that she had to stoop to this level to get media attention. I'd much rather she gain publicity by being a successful Indy Car Racer, not by being a sexy underclad model who just happens to drive in the Indy Series.

When are women ever going to learn? We CAN'T have it all! We can't ask for and expect to be taken seriously and gain respect in a "man's world" when the first thing we do for money is show off our bodies and take our clothes off for money. Bad move, Ms. Patrick!

Kim

2-25-2009 @ 10:38PM

Stewart Fan said...

I am not a Kyle Busch fan BUT he is a great driver. Kyle's unique in his own way so why anyone feel's the need to compare him to any other driver is ridiculous. I sometimes love to hate Kyle and Nascar would miss having such a good bad guy. I love to hate him and I think he loves being the bad guy.

I don't blame Danica for posing in skimpy outfits. The skimpy outfits and Danica brought a lot of fans back to Indy cars. I've had a couple of magazines with Carl Edwards showing his great body (nice six pack) and it didn't diminish him.

2-25-2009 @ 11:50PM

I understand where you're coming from, Kim, and I am in partial agreement. I believe Patrick should have waited until she was a more established winner before trying a stunt like this--she wouldn't be risking credibility as much if she already had 3 or 4 wins to brag about FIRST.

However, I don't begrudge her the opportunity to have a little fun with the stereotypes of sport, because that's exactly what she's doing--rubbing her femininity in the face of a "man's" world view, and gaining some "exposure" for her racing series in the off-season. If she pulls off another win, her gamble will pay off huge--imagine the publicity if a bikini-clad "model" beats the "boys" at their own game. She really can't lose, because she gets little credit as a driver already (calling her one win a fake, because her competition ran out of gas), and if she wins again, it only makes her stronger. It's a publicity stunt, but not an entirely dumb one, either.

As far as Formula One's popularity, consider it the soccer of motorsports--Americans aren't that into it, but it's huge outside of our borders.