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Author	Topic: Unconfirmed reports that Franchitti will replace Stremme in NASCAR	Topic is locked Back to Topics

Hornetsp Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:2,158 Points:350,460 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Sep 9, 2007 7:04:09 AM Ignore Hornetsp Report Abuse I hope this is not true. Open wheel racing has lost too many good drivers to NASCAR. Its time to reverse the trend. If open wheel racing is going to survive (and I hope it does, I like it over NASCAR) they have to retain their best drivers. Too many open wheel guys (top names) are moving or planning on moving to NASCAR. If open wheel racing is to get near the top of the racing sports world again. It has to unify and retain its top drivers.

Hornetsp

Champion Author
Indianapolis

Posts:2,158
Points:350,460
Joined:Jul 2004

Message Posted: Sep 9, 2007 7:04:09 AM

Ignore Hornetsp Report Abuse

I hope this is not true. Open wheel racing has lost too many good drivers to NASCAR. Its time to reverse the trend.

If open wheel racing is going to survive (and I hope it does, I like it over NASCAR) they have to retain their best drivers. Too many open wheel guys (top names) are moving or planning on moving to NASCAR. If open wheel racing is to get near the top of the racing sports world again. It has to unify and retain its top drivers.

REPLIES (newest first)

mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:35,741 Points:2,733,955 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Nov 9, 2007 5:46:17 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse That can only happen with reunification, and a series that can speak with one voice. And Tony's is not the voice!
Hornetsp Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:2,158 Points:350,460 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Nov 8, 2007 3:16:02 PM Ignore Hornetsp Report Abuse Now Sam Hornish in NASCAR too. Open wheel needs to do something soon or the little hope it still has of being imporant again will be gone. Change needs to come first with a merger of the series. Second with chaning the tide of drivers leaving to race cars with roofs and bumpers.
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:35,741 Points:2,733,955 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Oct 5, 2007 6:43:58 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse Looks like his wife brought him home.
14smoke Champion Author Birmingham Posts:13,204 Points:1,924,165 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Oct 4, 2007 6:41:31 AM Ignore 14smoke Report Abuse Confirmed and signed yesterday. Dario Franchitti will be bringing his driving talent to the #40 Chip Ganassi Dodge for 2008, 09 and 2010. Dario is only entered in the ARCA race for this weekend at Talladega, but, I expect they'll try to get him qualified for a couple of Nextel Cup races before the 2007 season is over. I hope he brings Ashley to all the races too!
IndyGlenn Champion Author Atlanta Posts:20,893 Points:2,371,395 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2007 11:40:10 AM Ignore IndyGlenn Report Abuse mckenzi, this is going to be a very historic weekend at Talladega, in more ways than one.
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:35,741 Points:2,733,955 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2007 6:59:30 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse It's probably one of the easiest tracks to start at. And this year will be slightly different with the use of the new aerodynamics. So we could see Dario, Jacques, JPM, and Sam on the track together.
14smoke Champion Author Birmingham Posts:13,204 Points:1,924,165 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2007 4:15:43 PM Ignore 14smoke Report Abuse If indeed he's going to attempt to get into the Cup race at Talladega, then he'll be on the same type of schedule that Ganassi put Montoya on last year, as his first Cup race was at Talladega.
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:35,741 Points:2,733,955 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2007 7:00:46 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse Or he'll show 42 cars the way around the corners and win. So there's at least three possibilities.
SE3.5 Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:17,029 Points:3,167,465 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2007 9:52:11 AM Ignore SE3.5 Report Abuse First race @ Talladega? If he makes the field, he will either ride in 43rd until he gets lapped, or he will cause the big one shortly after getting up to speed.
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:35,741 Points:2,733,955 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2007 6:05:26 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse Heard the announcement yesterday that Dario will "attempt" to qualify for the Talladega Cup Race. They didn't say if he'll try to do both races, but they've moved his timetable up by weeks!
14smoke Champion Author Birmingham Posts:13,204 Points:1,924,165 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 28, 2007 6:59:37 AM Ignore 14smoke Report Abuse Still unconfirmed, but, word is he'll be running an ARCA car at Talladega, in preparation for a couple of starts at the Nextel Cup level.
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:35,741 Points:2,733,955 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Sep 28, 2007 6:47:46 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse Ready to watch Dario!
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:35,741 Points:2,733,955 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2007 6:48:49 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse "They as leaders"???? I wouldn't call them that - at all. Especially with their display of ignorance at Chicagoland.
14smoke Champion Author Birmingham Posts:13,204 Points:1,924,165 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2007 6:33:27 AM Ignore 14smoke Report Abuse While Dario says little about a pending move to NASCAR, saying he and his team are still celebrating the 2007 IndyCar Series Championship, it's being reported that Franchitti will indeed pilot the #40 Dodge Avenger next season in Nextel/Sprint Cup, and that his sponsor from IndyCar, Canadian Club, will take over as main sponsor on the #40.
Hornetsp Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:2,158 Points:350,460 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2007 6:32:11 PM Ignore Hornetsp Report Abuse Tony George and I did not see Mr. Barnhart either. They as leaders should be in victory lane when a series champion has captured the crown. That is just my opinion though.
mckenzi01 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:35,741 Points:2,733,955 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2007 6:39:51 AM Ignore mckenzi01 Report Abuse Who wan't there? The leader of IRL? Did anyone miss him? Did anybody really care? Is there anybody out there?
IndyGlenn Champion Author Atlanta Posts:20,893 Points:2,371,395 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Sep 12, 2007 3:01:02 AM Ignore IndyGlenn Report Abuse A question for those that say the IRL and Champ Car must unite . . . what is left of Champ Car for the IRL to combine WITH?
Hornetsp Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:2,158 Points:350,460 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Sep 11, 2007 2:12:30 PM Ignore Hornetsp Report Abuse Wonder if Franchitti's imment change to NASCAR is the reason he was not in victory circle congratulating him on the series championship at Chicago? No one of high importance was there. At least not that I saw on TV when I watched the race and again today when I replayed it. To me that is a huge snub of the champion. No wonder Franchitti would think of moving on. I want him to stay but with that kind of treatment. NO!
ShanC Champion Author Rochester Posts:12,096 Points:405,985 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2007 10:40:51 PM Ignore ShanC Report Abuse >If open wheel racing is to get near the top of the racing >sports world again, it has to unify and retain its top drivers. Here is my personal opinion. Just one person. One opinion. First: I love watching motor-racing. Any kind... Motorcycle, Car, Snowmobile, Dirt, Asphalt, Drag, 500-lap, whatever. But in comparing open-wheel to NASCAR; it is boring. I really do appreciate the expertise involved in IRL driving. However, there is not as much passing, not as many cars, and God Forbid if two cars actually touch each other! In NASCAR, if you don't slam the side of your car into the guy you're passing, rubbing half your paint job off on his... it's an insult. There's rarely any "4-wide" in a 180-mph corner. In the pits, there no "4 wheels or 2 wheels" decision to make. I do not think it would matter who stays in open-wheel, or even if people left NASCAR for it - it would not gain popularity. Much like Beckham playing soccer in America - it will not make people switch from football.
ShanC Champion Author Rochester Posts:12,096 Points:405,985 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2007 9:57:24 PM Ignore ShanC Report Abuse >Good news for Danica fans. >She may finally win one after all the top drivers have gone to Nascar. Do Not Bad-Mouth My Next Wife Like That.
SE3.5 Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:17,029 Points:3,167,465 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2007 8:28:27 PM Ignore SE3.5 Report Abuse Good news for Danica fans. She may finally win one after all the top drivers have gone to Nascar.
SE3.5 Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:17,029 Points:3,167,465 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2007 8:22:50 PM Ignore SE3.5 Report Abuse The bigger question is whether Penske will bring Hornish Jr over to the Nascar side.
SE3.5 Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:17,029 Points:3,167,465 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2007 8:21:38 PM Ignore SE3.5 Report Abuse Bet on it. Ganassi wants Franchitti & Montoya in his Nascar rides.
Hornetsp Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:2,158 Points:350,460 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2007 2:26:30 PM Ignore Hornetsp Report Abuse The IRL keeps adding races, unfortunetly they keep loosing others and they offset. Over the years they have lost good racing venues as California, Phoenix, Michigan, Orlando, Charlotte, Las Vegas, etc. Hard to build a big busy schedule and keep fans interested when they tracks will not agree to keep races on same dates. I did not go to Michigan this year because of the change in date. Gas prices had a little to do as well but the main item was the change in date. It did not work with what I usually do each year. Instead many are try to move things around to accomidate those boys with mettle above their heads and bumpers (i.e. NASCAR, all levels).
POCONO Champion Author Houston Posts:2,731 Points:250,000 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2007 11:11:34 AM Ignore POCONO Report Abuse 20Smoke; FYI, the IRL had ONE race outside the US (Japan). Hardly a factor in Dario switching. There is no doubt about NASCAR popularity in the US. These guys see an opportunity to continue driving later in life for some money not available in ALMS and other classes. Just business.
kimo31 Champion Author Orange County Posts:9,922 Points:2,580,195 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2007 2:18:07 AM Ignore kimo31 Report Abuse I believe this is happening because everyone is recognizing that NASCAR is by far the most popular and competitive racing series in the United States. IRL was initially formed to "grow" American born race car drivers but now it is dominated by foreign born drivers. The irony is that IRL was formed because Tony George felt that the Champ Car series was being dominated by foreign born drivers. Two open wheel racing series is 1 too many and until they combine into 1 NASCAR will IMO continue to dominate racing in North America.
14smoke Champion Author Birmingham Posts:13,204 Points:1,924,165 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 9, 2007 6:37:22 PM Ignore 14smoke Report Abuse It's definitely the money and popularity. IndyCar and ChampCar, with their divide, will either have to reform together, or face dying alone, and the money is good in NASCAR, with ironclad TV contracts and sponsors who are asking to get in. It's the last frontier for some, like a Juan Pablo Montoya, who raced and won at every other level, and for someone like Franchitti, who doesn't want to spend that much time away from his bride(Ashley Judd), NASCAR makes better sense as it keeps him in the U.S.
duffer36 Champion Author Toledo Posts:8,537 Points:1,392,905 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Sep 9, 2007 12:08:49 PM Ignore duffer36 Report Abuse Why is this happening? Is it because NASCAR races almost every weekend and these guys just love to race? Or is it the money and popularity?