Comments on: What’s The Problem At SFR?

By: SkipinSC

SkipinSC — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:38:57 +0000

Steve K: If we’re back to the Cart days, then I suspect we’ll soon have the Indy 500 and noting else. That dog won’t hunt any better than it did in the two previous incarnations.

By: JPIndyCar

JPIndyCar — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:01:36 +0000

I Sara is able to buy two tubs next year and runs Ed on the ovals and a young guy like Jonathan Summerton or John Edwards on the twisties and then both at the 500. But of course … sponsorship.

By: JPindycar

JPindycar — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:18:41 +0000

I think it’s ‘cuz of the radiation in Japan.

By: Zachary

Zachary — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:19:01 +0000

They just need time. It’s a team that’s learning the ropes on a limited budget. The fact that they challenged as well as they did at Indy in one of the deepest fields in recent history speaks well of them.

As for Ed Carpenter, it’s true, he hasn’t had any wins yet. But he’s had some good races (26 Top 10s, including a number of Top 5s), and has evolved into an oval ace, as we’ve seen at Indy and Kentucky over the past couple of years. He definitely needs some work (along with SFR) on the twisties, but cheers to them for at least trying a few this year. You don’t get better without practice.

By: PC

PC — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:20:42 +0000

I hate to always blame underfunding for poor performances from small teams, but that seems to be the popular choice here. After Hinchtown almost ran out of money at Mid Ohio, I can’t imagine Sprott is spending Target or Verizon money at Newman Haas. We all saw some of Simona’s drives with iffy funding last year. Seabass has certainly delivered in excess of his sponsor’s investment recently. But Newman Haas has years of experience that will always deliver in excess of their funding, Simona had Michael Cannon, Seabass is Seabass. It’s about the right people, experience, and chemistry. Sarah does not have the experience running a team, bringing the right people together, and creating the chemistry. I don’t know who is engineering, but it’s obviously not a Michael Cannon or I’d at least have an idea who it was, and Ed Carpenter is no Hinch, Seabass, or Servia, though on the right oval on the right day, he can deliver. The right combination of people with the right leadership can overdeliver on a given budget. Certain brilliant drivers or engineers can deliver results far in excess of their equipment. I love Sarah and SFR, but I think the results are about what is expected, Indy was the exception.

By: Steve K

Steve K — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:53:16 +0000

Really? She is new to this. That’s your reason. Why should she be as good as someone who has been in the motir sports for decades? What teams do you think SFR should be able to race with? What top engineers want to be employed part time? Why would she learn 10 years worth of data in 2 part time years? Why have a IRL driver in your car when were thankfully back to the CART days? Things might be different with the new car, but you need to be full time for more seat time and you need a world class driver, not an oval specialist. And most of all, you need $$$.

By: JohnMc

JohnMc — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:38:53 +0000

I have realized that I haven’t been thinking about SFR or Ed Carpenter since the 500. When Miller did his pre-race “run through the grid” and stopped by Ed and Tony George my only thought was where have you been? Frankly, I stopped paying attention to SFR and Ed which, I think, is not good. I had rather have an emotion like dissapointment generated than to have no feelings on the subject at all. I’ll work on it.

By: tcfisch

tcfisch — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:33:52 +0000

I though her new tub was provided by a oil company in Texas?

By: Brian from NY

Brian from NY — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:08:03 +0000

I hate to break it to you George, but I would have been surprised if SFR had any good finishes. You have a driver thats had two podium finishes in over 100 races and a owner that hasn’t done much better. Ed has benifited by having a father in law that supported his racing despite the lack of talent.
Sarah I’m sure gets money from Tony to keep Ed in the seat. What other reason would you keep him there? Unless, she wants to change drivers, that team will have about as much chance to win as pigs do to fly. They have good cars, but there is issues with the driver and the team.

By: Tom G.

Tom G. — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:05:33 +0000

OK, all joking aside, I agree. After the month of May I thought for sure that SFR was finally getting it all put together. I’m bummed to see their results.

Now in their defense, I haven’t seen any part time, small $ teams show well on ovals this year. Even DRR seemed to take a step back. It seems to me that success on ovals is directly proportional to budget these days. The only tracks that are conducive to a small team competing with the big guys are the twisty’s, and like you said, it’s not Ed’s thing.

I hate to put more hope on the new chassis / engine package, but I hope it shakes things up and gives teams liek Foyt and SFR a chance to compete.