Can we please be real?All this talk about a NASCAR driver hopping into a Formula One car and suddenly delivering the world its first American-bred F1 star since Mario Andretti is ludicrous.
Putting Kyle Busch or any other NASCAR driver (with the obvious exception of Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Speed) behind the wheel of the newly announced USF1 team would be 90 percent novelty and 10 percent pure optimism.
And it wouldn't be fair to them or to the rest of us who think it is high time to find a qualified young American open-wheel talent with a legitimate shot at making it in F1.
Legitimate being the word here.
Yes Busch is young, extremely talented and ambitious -- three of the basic qualifications. But for him to stand a real chance at even running near the front of the field -- forget winning a race -- he'd need to be with a proven team and have logged thousands of miles in a car. How about competing in an open-wheel race?
Sorry, but running Legends cars and modifieds on an oval does not count as open-wheel experience when it comes to strapping into the world's most sophisticated race cars competing against the most athletic race car drivers on the planet.
That's not to say with an extended timeline and a seat at Ferrari, Busch or Kasey Kahne or Jeff Gordon or a select handful of other NASCAR stars couldn't be successful in F1. But it's not an instant transition, certainly not with a startup team no matter how impressive the founders' credentials or noble his intentions.
Why would these NASCAR stars want to jump into a no-win situation?
While F1 is huge everywhere else in the world, their fame would take a nose-dive in America. Think it's tough and frustrating fighting fender-to-fender a lap down for the Lucky Dog privilege in a Sprint Cup race? Imagine what it's like knowing you stand next-to-nothing odds to win in a F1 race. Ask Speed how ample talent fares in the wrong circumstance.
The exotic locales, gourmet food and beautiful people can't substitute for the exhilaration of victory these drivers are used to enjoying.
Sure having a NASCAR driver on the grid would be a huge attraction for F1 -- a pick-me-up for a series with its own set of problems.
But being an out-of-contention sideshow is not the right reason for them to be there.
Let's hope the USF1 team owners, the wise Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson tap an American(s) with open-wheel experience and odds-on potential to give our country its best shot at contending on that great world stage. It's about time someone recognized and filled the void.
And if Busch, Kahne, or even Gordon are truly inclined to give big-time open-wheel racing a shot, let's first get them behind the wheel of an IndyCar.
Move the 600,000 miles of Charlotte to Memorial Day Monday and let these NASCAR drivers give the Indy 500 a try.
Latest NASCAR Photos
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: David Ragan, driver of the #6 UPS Ford, spins into a gravel pit during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** David Ragan
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: A view of cars racing during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, races Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Dale Earnhardt Jr.;Kyle Busch
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Crew members work on the #82 Red Bull Toyota, driven by Scott Speed, in the garage are during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Scott Speed
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Crew members work on the #18 M&M's Toyota, driven by Kyle Busch, on pit road during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Crew members work on the #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet, driven by Kevin Harvick, on pit road during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kevin Harvick
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, sits in his car on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Brian Vickers, driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, sits in his car on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Brian Vickers
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Denny Hamlin (R), driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, talks with his crew chief Mike Ford on the grid prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Mike Ford;Denny Hamlin
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NASCAR driver David Ragan talks with reporters as he leaves the infield care center after he was involved in an accident during the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-27-2009 @ 9:23PM
hafttwo said...
sounds good get him and his jap crap out of nascar
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2-27-2009 @ 9:58PM
kantwistaye said...
It'd be awesome if just one year, NASCAR moved the 600 to Monday on Memorial Day and allowed any drivers that were interested to go run the Indy 500.
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2-27-2009 @ 10:11PM
Bob said...
I am 100% with you on this, Holly. In fact, that's almost exactly what I said in my comments under one of the previous F1 articles. Formula One drivers have a much more rounded skillset than drivers that spend most of their time "turning left". F1 cars are small, light, extremely powerful and very twitchy, and EVERY course they run has numerous completely different curves that go both directions. They also drive rain or shine. Are F1 drivers the BEST drivers? Not necessarily. NASCAR has excellent drivers, but they would need to develop many new skills to be competitive--the question is could they learn quickly enough to be contenders, and could they do so with what would likely be less than the best equipment and funding? Formula One is outrageously expensive to field a competitive team.
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2-27-2009 @ 10:54PM
nzcr14 said...
KYLE BUSH IN FORMULA 1 ? NO WAY! WILL NEVER HAPPEN!First off, the way he drives,he will end up killing himself if not somebody else, or both.
He is too aggressive of a driver to survive in those UNSAFE CARS. F1 CASRS ARE JUST AS UNSAFE AS INDY CARS.
kyle only has been around a handfull of years and in those years he drove for the # 1 team in nazcar for performance,tecnology, top equipment,innovation etc.etc. He left such organizzation and jumped into JGR which has been just as competitive as HMS.Why would he take a chance to an f1 team not as competitive as the top nascar teams where he would have to start not from scratch, but a long trial period, will
sure be needed.
NAZCAR IS ALL ABOUT MONEY AND THE NAZCAR DRIVERS
EARN MORE MONEY THAN F1/INDY.
WHY would the KYLE go to a lower paycheck?,
F-1 is very much followed in EUROPE but it does not match NAZCAR GOOD TIMES ATTENDANCE IN THE USA
HIS popularity would not be as big as a top nazcar driver popularity and the merchandise will not sell as much as it sells in US for NAZCAR.
At LAST FORMULA 1 IS A VERY UNPOPULAR RACING SPORT IN USA. EVEN INDY IS MUCH MORE POPULAR THAN F-1.
WHY WOULD KYLE BUSH LEAVE GOLD FOR DIRT?.
NO WAY, THE SWITCH WILL NEVER HAPPEN. I believe it only if i see it.Does not work for me...
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3-01-2009 @ 8:53AM
doloresrgm said...
Obviously you know nothing about F1 . F1 drivers are some of the highest paid athletes in all of sports . Micheal Shumacker was at one point the highest paid athlete on the planet , even surpassing Micheal Jordan . If your gonna post on a subject at least try to use a little bit of fact.
3-01-2009 @ 2:02PM
shymtnranch said...
you do not have a clue as to what you are talking about. f1 drivers are paid much more than any series in the u.s. and it's popularity is not limited to the u.s.a., it's attraction is worldwide.. you need to catch up on your reading and expand your horizons.
2-28-2009 @ 1:22AM
CJ said...
I could give a rat's-ass if he does well or not in Formula One, i just would like to see him out of Nascar period! I dont want to see him win a championship, but he said he'd be open to going if he won a championship by the time he's 25 and i dont see that happening at all, if ever! He's too damn aggressive when it comes to his driving and he doesnt know how to close the deal to win a championship, as apparent from last year! I'd love to see him walk out the door even before his contract is up at JGR, but id be suprised if he leaves to go to F1.
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2-28-2009 @ 1:26AM
kevskis said...
When can he start, and how can I help to get him over there? Oh and F1 can have the toyota's too.
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2-28-2009 @ 1:43AM
pnut166 said...
This argument runs both ways - what about all the open wheel guys that flooded NASCAR last year and bombed out? They even said themselves that stock car racing was much harder than they thought. Two completely different animals; one is not necessarily "harder" than the other. No doubt even the mightly J.Gordon would struggle in F1 to begin with, just as J. Villenueve, D. Franchitti, Juan Pablo Montoya, etc. all have in Sprint Cup.
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2-28-2009 @ 2:13AM
Desiree said...
First of all, I am somewhat surprised to see any article about Formula 1, here in the USA, since it's NASCAR, NASCAR, NASCAR you only hear about - so thanks to the author.
And if an American team is really trying to break into F-1, then I can see from a business point of view why they'd want to consider el Americano to be their driver.
But road racing is NOTHING like going in circles; high-tech, engineered F-1 cars are NOTHING like stock cars - so a NASCAR driver would NOT be qualified to drive in Formula 1.
The lucky 22-24 that get to be F-1 drivers (usually) have to work their way up from "minor league" open-wheeled formula racing first, then they may do time as test drivers for an F-1 team, then by some minor miracle, perhaps a couple drivers a year get called up to the Big Time. And then against all odds, they are expected to bring in points, fairly quickly too.
NASCAR good ole boys need not apply.
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2-28-2009 @ 4:31AM
obamaizadope said...
holly cain is a moron. shut up and write your dopey columns. living your pathetic life vicariously through others doesn't give you any standing other than a platform to disseminate opinions larger than you deserve..Do your thing Kyle, and everybody else for that matter. If people actually paid attention to negative nancies like cain, we'd all be sitting in the corner sucking our thumbs..
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2-28-2009 @ 6:07AM
wckline said...
Holly, the only thing absurd is your comments that it is. This would be the best thing that could happen to Kyle Busch, it would straighten out that cockie attitude and show him how to appreciate others in his life. If we are lucky you will follow him to Europe and grow up yourself.
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2-28-2009 @ 10:47AM
bobharlibob said...
Kyle Busch can drive anything and win. I would not write Kyle off.
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3-01-2009 @ 3:41PM
peter5566 said...
Formula 1 is the most watched sport in the world ..is it pinnacle of motorsport. you can't change it by your stupid comments.. just realize that finally !!!.. Kyle Busch is right.. he just wants to be in the best league of motorsport in the world. ..with USF1, Formula 1 will be very popular in America (already is quite popular)..believe me!
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2-28-2009 @ 1:30PM
Bob said...
Peter, I agree with your assessment that F1 is extremely popular around the world, and it is widely considered the top of the mountain in racing, but sadly, that is not the case in America. F1 is to American motorsports what soccer is to our other sports--huge outside our borders, a mere curiosity within. If we had a CHAMPION American driver, it would be similar to Lance Armstrong in cycling--America would watch as long as he is there, then tune right back out once he's done. The catch is getting a champion from here--we have plenty of capable drivers in many different motorsports series, but F1 is so different, and difficult to master (check how few different champions they've had over the last few years), that we rarely ever get competitive drivers from these shores. Mind you, I am NOT bashing NASCAR drivers, because there are many great drivers in the series--it just takes many years to become merely competitive in F1 cars (even for those who grew up racing similar vehicles), let alone become a champion (and on a new team, to boot).
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2-28-2009 @ 3:14PM
Debbie Luker said...
i really could care less about Kyle bush because he is never going to win the champion ship...hes a good driver but he cant hold it together when he needs to.
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2-28-2009 @ 8:48PM
my93bella said...
Apple and Oranges here!!! Drivers and cars make no comparison!!!! F-1 is a world racing sport and the only part of the world left out is the US. Americans want crashes!!! I don't know why but you can't jump from Nascar to F-1. It's like saying you can fly and f-16 because you once flew a kite!!! Americans need to stay Nascar and not defile the elegance and class of the F-1 circuit. I'm F-1 all the way for REAL driving world talent.
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3-01-2009 @ 11:37AM
Michael said...
bella, you must really be 93 because apparently you know nothing of nascar. And speaking of crashes, why is it there are as many in F1 as in nascar but our drivers tend to walk away and not be maimed for life. Nascar may not be elegant but it takes a hell of alot of talent and guts to drive 200 mph, inches from the other driver in a 2500 pound beast of a machine. just like everyone else across the waters, you and the rest of the world are jealous of America and just look for reasons to take cheap jabs. you and eveyone like you make me sick. you pompous azzes.
2-28-2009 @ 9:32PM
Stewart Fan said...
'exotic locales' 'gourmet food' 'beautiful people'
Sounds just like American Nascar to me!
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3-01-2009 @ 4:43AM
Don Emerson said...
For your information Holly, Kyle and a few others might actually do well in F 1 racing. It's clear you didn't do much homework in regards to this article. In 1970, Donnie Allison, who didn't even gave a full time ride in Nascar, ran 4th in the Indy 500 and won rookie of the year honors. He came back the next year and ran 6th. His brother Bobby ran well until mechanical problems knocked him out of the race. Works for me......
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