Comments on: Where Does Wheldon Go From Here?

By: Leigh O'Gorman

Leigh O'Gorman — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 01:18:48 +0000

Soucek for D&R would be an interesting choice. He’s a decent enough driver, but he tends to throw wobbler’s and could be a potentially destabilising factor.

By: Reading The Tea Leaves

Reading The Tea Leaves — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:35:36 +0000

Wheldon to Andretti’s 4th car (possible partial schedule, if he takes Kyle Busch’s truck offer). John Andretti runs a 5th car at Indy.

Conway to KV’s 2nd Lotus car. Sato, Conway and Viso are the 3 drivers for KV.

Andy Soucek to D&R’s 2nd or 3rd (depending on how many races Tracy gets) car.

AJ Allmendinger runs the Indy 500 in Panther’s 2nd car.

By: Leigh O'Gorman

Leigh O'Gorman — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:36:56 +0000

So, he’s like nearly every single driver in the series (including the US drivers)?

By: noname

noname — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:31:00 +0000

He brought Z-line sponsorship with him from Dale Coyne to Dreyer and Reinbold.

By: Leigh O'Gorman

Leigh O'Gorman — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 23:25:02 +0000

Wilson is a pay driver?? Since when..?

By: chrisleone

chrisleone — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:49:08 +0000

Agreed with the rest of the folks on KV. I do believe that your driver needs to have some sort of connotation to your sponsor’s product – and to that end I agree with you, George, that American drivers should be endorsing our military. Nothing against Meira, Matos, or Wheldon, but it just seems a weird fit. Wheldon was the closest thing to an exception, though.

Now a Brit at KV makes perfect sense. I think that’s why Lotus tried to install James Rossiter in the third car last year, albeit to no avail. I would replace Sato, not Viso or Moraes, though. Sato has never impressed me, not even in Formula One, where I seem to recall him divebombing hairpins now and again. Viso and Moraes are quick, and once they get tamed with the help of a veteran (Wheldon would be a good idea) they’ll run up front. I know Wheldon’s been a Honda driver for most of his career, but…

By: The Lapper

The Lapper — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:03:13 +0000

KV for Dan. KV needs to step up and Dan could be the guy.

By: Stephen_P83

Stephen_P83 — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:44:00 +0000

I hope JR gets the National Guard ride. George, you mentioned you’re in the minority believing the driver of a car sponsored by the US Military. Count me as part of the minority as well. Now, I’m not one of those people railing against the lack of American drivers in the IICS. I am primarily a fan of F1, where there are no Americans and the only potential prospect is still a few years away. As a currently serving member of the US Armed Forces (Captain, US Army), I have always felt that an American needs to be in that car. The sponsorship represents the US Military…in what way is a non citizen or permanent resident representative of what the sponsor is looking to attract? JR is a young American male, he’s physically fit, and he is the exact demographic the US Military is seeking to attract. So, you can count me in the minority but I don’t believe a non American should ever represent the US Armed Forces.

By: Zachary

Zachary — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:17:00 +0000

Good thoughts, and a good article. I actually agree on Wheldon being a good fit at KV. I’ve actually been thinking on their current situation a lot, and think Wheldon makes sense on a lot of levels. That alone probably means it won’t happen. I think Viso still improving, but I would seriously be chugging the Tums if I knew Sato and Moraes might be having another crack at my equipment next year.

I actually decided to spin this off to a post on my site, which I’ll post up tomorrow. Thanks!

By: noname

noname — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:42:19 +0000

I guess your kinda right there, he did under perform at Ganassi and in 2004-05 when he dominated he had the best car in the field. It seems that after the 2007 Indy 500 he somewhat lost his motivation. While I really like Dan you made a point, he is damn expensive. I read somewhere he earned or is in dispute over $2.5 million he was supposed to be paid at panther in 2009-10 even though he finished 10th and 9th. If Panther signed an American like J.R. Hildebrand it would make 10 times more sense than to keep Dan.