Can Danica Patrick make it into F1 ?

[mlittle]

Julian, we've had to deal w/them d--- yankees since the 1860's, so any help would greatly be appreciated.

[Julian Mayo]

Julian, we've had to deal w/them d--- yankees since the 1860's, so any help would greatly be appreciated.

Just praise the lord n pass the ammo Mfer

[mlittle]

On one of my more recent postings on this thread(I think it's on pg.8 of this thread) I listed several drivers from the IndyCar series who might have a shot at Formula 1(Wheldon, Patrick, and Kanaan). Add two more names from the ChampCar series: rookie Andrew Ranger and 2004 series champion Sebastien Bourdais. Ranger's name came up at the Canadian GP, when he was seen talking to some of the team officials w/Jordan F1. This past weekend, according to speedtv.com, Bourdais, who won the F3000 title in 2002 before crossing the ocean for the U.S., was present at the French Gp and told several interested persons that "Formula 1 needs a French driver". The question the article(here's the link in question--www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/18003) asked was--Could that driver be (SeaBass)? If so, then that waiting list I mentioned in the posting back on pg. 8 just got a bit longer.

[Julian Mayo]

On one of my more recent postings on this thread(I think it's on pg.8 of this thread) I listed several drivers from the IndyCar series who might have a shot at Formula 1(Wheldon, Patrick, and Kanaan). Add two more names from the ChampCar series: rookie Andrew Ranger and 2004 series champion Sebastien Bourdais. Ranger's name came up at the Canadian GP, when he was seen talking to some of the team officials w/Jordan F1. This past weekend, according to speedtv.com, Bourdais, who won the F3000 title in 2002 before crossing the ocean for the U.S., was present at the French Gp and told several interested persons that "Formula 1 needs a French driver". The question the article(here's the link in question--www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/18003) asked was--Could that driver be (SeaBass)? If so, then that waiting list I mentioned in the posting back on pg. 8 just got a bit longer.

The f3000 title is not as significant at the moment as FF champion, however the list of vacant seats in F1 could include a few Official test driver positions for up and coming talent. My personal opinion is that Bourdais may have missed his chance by going to American racing.

[JayVee]

The next French driver to race in F1 will be Frank Montagny.

Back to Danica, she was given 0 chance by F1 Racing of getting a drive with BAR and that made me and another reason not to renew my subscirption.

Interesting they mention Wheldon as a candidate for Button's seat but not Kanaan even though BAR said they will give Kanaan a test.
They even have Webber as a possibility

These guys are on something!!

I still reckon Davidson/Barrichello

[mlittle]

2-part posting...

1--You may be right, julian; Bourdais probably missed his shot at F1 by coming to the States; if he goes to F1 now there's the possibility of him becoming the next "da Matta" and returning w/out success. He's in a good seat w/Newman-Haas and should contend for the ChampCar title this year.

2--As for Patrick...If Rahal hadn't switched series back in March 2004, she'd be racing ChampCars now rather than IndyCars(and considering that her whole background is in road racing, not ovals, would be doing better most likely than she is now, even w/her successes so far). Even though Kanaan has a confirmed test session w/BAR-Honda later this year, that seat(Button's) is wide open for 06'(if Button jumps to Williams) and there could be a hard decision facing the team chieftains' there. My guess, JayVee...The likely pecking order for that seat--Kanaan, Patrick, Wheldon, or Ranger(unless Jordan gets him first). As for their )6' lineup, it'll be either Takuma Sato or Anthony Davidson in one seat, and any of those three(or Davidson) in the second.

[Julian Mayo]

2-part posting...

1--You may be right, julian; Bourdais probably missed his shot at F1 by coming to the States; if he goes to F1 now there's the possibility of him becoming the next "da Matta" and returning w/out success. He's in a good seat w/Newman-Haas and should contend for the ChampCar title this year.

2--As for Patrick...If Rahal hadn't switched series back in March 2004, she'd be racing ChampCars now rather than IndyCars(and considering that her whole background is in road racing, not ovals, would be doing better most likely than she is now, even w/her successes so far). Even though Kanaan has a confirmed test session w/BAR-Honda later this year, that seat(Button's) is wide open for 06'(if Button jumps to Williams) and there could be a hard decision facing the team chieftains' there. My guess, JayVee...The likely pecking order for that seat--Kanaan, Patrick, Wheldon, or Ranger(unless Jordan gets him first). As for their )6' lineup, it'll be either Takuma Sato or Anthony Davidson in one seat, and any of those three(or Davidson) in the second.

I cannot see BarHONDA letting Sato go

[mlittle]

Neither can I, but then again...who would've thought that Button would try to bolt for Williams last year?

[Julian Mayo]

Neither can I, but then again...who would've thought that Button would try to bolt for Williams last year?

Yes, He like Webber, obviously thought they were going to do a lot better.
Imho, the japanese manufacturers are pulling their hair out at not having an F1 Champ as yet.

[JayVee]

Imho, the japanese manufacturers are pulling their hair out at not having an F1 Champ as yet.

True but that F1 Champ ain't gonna be Sato.

There is a very fine line between being brave and being stupid and Sato has crossed that line too many times IMHO. I like him but he just isn't learning.

[Julian Mayo]

Imho, the japanese manufacturers are pulling their hair out at not having an F1 Champ as yet.

True but that F1 Champ ain't gonna be Sato.

There is a very fine line between being brave and being stupid and Sato has crossed that line too many times IMHO. I like him but he just isn't learning.

Aaargghhhh!!! What is that, a souvenir from a leprosy clinic ?

[JayVee]

Aaargghhhh!!! What is that, a souvenir from a leprosy clinic ?

It will change soon

[Julian Mayo]

Aaargghhhh!!! What is that, a souvenir from a leprosy clinic ?

It will change soon

To what? A stump?

[Jim Watt]

On the subject of D. Patrick in F1.

I just spent some time reviewing this thread and am very impressed at the range of opinions and reasonings supplied on this theoretical topic. Of course, because she is a woman, Danica gets more press (witness the no thread for Weldon or Kanaan phenomenon). So what? The world ain't fair (remember Ferarri last year? Remember Michael Schumacher's incredible luck? ) So who wouldn't like to be a LUCKY driver?

Danica's a driver. And she's lucky. But, as many have pointed out, she is also very bright. As she said after winning the pole last week at Kansas, "All of us are good drivers; the question is who is great?"

And that takes me to F1. Of the 20 or so drivers competing right now, about eight of them are good and unlikely to ever either be rated "great" or win an F1 race, let alone a WDC.

O.K. O.K. you want the names

So think about these: Albers, Davidson, dela Rosa, Frisacher, Karthikeyan, Klien, Liuzzi, Sato ... all good; all driving variously competitive or non competitive machinery.

But isn't it clear that Sato is out-classed by Jenson; embarrassingly so? So obviously so that people are already talking about Honda (Honda!!) dumping him. Because they want the Constructors' Trophy --and to get it they have to get competitive drivers! And they're losing the one they have!!

Now it gets hard. I know I'm going to tread on toes here, but here goes anyway.

You have to include Fisichella in here too, among the good but not great. He's been blessed with the best equipment available and hasn't paid the bills. I realize he's an F1 winner, but no WDC. Or ever likely to be.

And Montiero and Massa aren't even F1 winners yet. And sad as it is to say, I think Jenson is heading down the same trail Fisi has blazed. There'll be an F1 win because for at least two or three more seasons he'll be in good equipment (that is, if Frank Williams can get himself some decent engineers!!), but no WDC.

And though I have loved him in the past, and still love to watch him, I predict a similar future for JPM: some wins, but no WDC.

It's too soon to tell about Webber and Hiedfeld (not enough time in first rate machines)

So.

Right now in F1 who are the great ones?

Michael, of course, Kimi and Fernando. And who's in between Webbo & Nick and this trio? Jarno Trulli (who is a mystery man and may end up a great one, but I doubt it) Rubens, Ralph Schumacher & Davy Coulthard --all of whom are better than "good drivers," but still not great ones.

I know I've left some one out and I'll hear about it sooner than I'd like. But my point is: where do I think Danica would "fit" in this, very ELITE, list?

Not at the top. And not because she's a woman. Just because the ones who get there do it with such alacrity. Their path has a kind of built in momentum: they get a ride, the word goes around -- and people like Jean Todt and Flavio come calling. It COULD happen to Danica, but only if her test is something really REALLY extraordinary. Remember, friends, how fast Michael went from Jordan to WDC! And it isn't as though the field was wide open for him!!

I like that Bobby Rahal has faith in Danica. I like what many of her supporters have said here in this thread. And from all I can glean from her TV and print interviews, I like her, too. A lot. And I'd be thrilled (because it would be so great for F1!!) if she lit up the sky like Fernando and Kimi [and Michael & Mikka before them!]. And I'm willing to hope for it, too.

But if she does as well as Rubens, I'll go over the moon. And so will you. And so will most of the rest of the world! And that will be because she's a woman. Unlike, for instance, Taku who is simply a Japanese driver. There are only so many Japanese. But women make up more than half of the world's population! So it definitely matters that she's a girl.

So, my answer then, is: "Yes. Danica Patrick can drive in F1. And maybe even win some races. But I don't see the magic, yet, that makes for a "great one" or even a WDC."

Hope I'm wrong and if so, I'll be the first to say so

Jim Watt

[Julian Mayo]

Of Danica, I think that is a fair assessment so far. What I do think singles her out from a lot of drivers of her capabilities, is the determination factor. And I aint going anywhere near your assessment of the others til the trumpeting, trampling hordes are done with you, and rationality can raise its tiny voice.