Is There Any Hope For Scheckter?

[GP Racer]

So how do you guys feel about Tomas Scheckter?

I have to say that I think Tomas is one of the quickest and most exciting drivers in the IRL, with more daring do than most, but in his over three years here, he has produced absolutely nothing but heartache and pain. He has a dismal record at finishing races, and has had more accidents and mishaps than any other driver out there. He has once again started the season with 3 accidents in 3 races. His "spin" at St. Pete was almost to much to take. His to numerous to mention breakdowns are another matter.

So, what is it? Is he just the unluckiest driver to ever take to a race track in the history of all racing, or does he just plain stink? And, should Tomas just move on or can he really win here?

[Woolley]

Quick but erratic, which pretty much sums up his time over here, too. I've lost a little enthusiasm now that all the accidents seem to be either someone else's fault or worse, some useless rookie who shouldn't be allowed near a track. Short memory has our Tomas, unfortunately. It's a pity because as a fan of his father, I've always wanted him to be good.

So my answer to your question, not really either. He certainly doesn't stink, but it's not all bad luck either.

[marcus]

I just dont know.

I have his record at hand and its not good reading.

to the end of last year he had started 44 races and recorded 22 DNF's

that is terrible to only finish 22 races i honestly didnt think he had retired so much (Ok some of them had to be mechanical probs)

and he hasnt finished any this year either has he ?

so thats 47 starts with 25 DNF's

me thinks he needs to find someone to settle him down and I thought Panther would have been a good place for that.

I hope he turns it around as he is very quick but i feel if he continues on the way he is now he wont be around for much longer to improve that record.

[mountainstar]

Is There Any Hope For Scheckter?

Uh, No.

It's always funny to hear others go "Wow this guy is really fast", but to me it doesn't mean anything when you are always cannonballing cars into the wall and not finishing races. I followed Scheckter's career in the lower formula and no doubt he has some speed at times and won races, but he seemed to be missing something. Strangely enough his dad was known as being totally insane on the race track at the beginning of his career, but by the end of his brief career was a meek molly on the track. Will Junior be able to do the same? A South African A1 GP candidate perhaps?

[BootsOntheSide]

I've never expected him to become a leading IRL driver, and the way Enge is matchig his performacnes and generally keeping the car on the road suggests that it'll be a tough season for Scheckter. It's a shame Bell didn't keep the ride with the team, because he adjusted really well ocne he came in and is much mroe marketable. There's no way I'd put any faith in Scheckter now, he's had a lot of chances and seems to waste them all, and msot of it ultimately isn't luck. Any driver who's going to cease to be a crasher and becme fast and reliable has usually done so in less than 3 seasons.

[Snrub]

He reminds me of PT. The guy had the speed, but just couldn't seem to control himself and I think a lot of people were so frustrated with him that they wrote him off. When Scheckter first came to the IRL, he looked so promising. Since he hasn't really been at the front, which may or may not be his fault. Clearly a lot of people here are frustrated with him. It took PT nearly 10 years to start to drive more sensibly, but will Scheckter get all those chances? Amid the craziness PT still won races and his teams had enough money that they were willing to trade wrecked cars for wins. At Kool-Green, the sponsor specifically wanted him because he was a lose cannon and embodied the image they wanted to promote. I don't see any of those things happening for Scheckter, so he'd better become more sensible or he won't be driving. There are a LOT of good drivers out there who want a race seat and they'd value it enough not to wreck the car.

I think it's interesting to contrast to Manning in Champ Car '03. Here was a young guy who was given a shot, but with a small team. They couldn't afford anything so he didn't cause a single peice of damage on the car all year. He still performed remarkably well. Then he gets a call up to one of the biggest teams out there. He obviously drives a little differently now and the results aren't very different, but the point is that he got the job done extremely well and reliably.

[miamiyogi]

First all hi folks...I am brand new to this forum and this is my very first post. And I am a come again fan to open wheel racing and I am leaning towards the IRL but admittedly haven't been following champ. So please dont flame me to badly.

Agreed to the previous posts on Tomas' record. However, he was running very well back in Homestead he was hanging back purposely and became aggressive towards the end when "Kamikazee Kosuke" wiped him. I wasn't too impressed with his showing at St. Pete. But I think I'll remain a fan and stick with him this season.

Things aren't looking too good at Panther Racing as they are 0 finishes in 6 entries. We'll revisit the bad luck after Texas until then GO CHEVY GO!

[GP Racer]

Originally Posted by miamiyogi

Agreed to the previous posts on Tomas' record. However, he was running very well back in Homestead he was hanging back purposely and became aggressive towards the end when "Kamikazee Kosuke" wiped him. I wasn't too impressed with his showing at St. Pete. But I think I'll remain a fan and stick with him this season.

Welcome to the forum miami! Don't worry, I think you'll find this forum as flame free as they come.

Tomas has had a number of accidents and breakdowns that you could say weren't his fault, but how many do you have to have before people say you bring on your own bad luck? In other words, does he drive defensively enough to see whats happening down the track, or is he always pedal to the metal no matter what the situation? Is he just to hard on equipment, which is causing his breakdowns?

I think the really good drivers out there can see whats happening, adjust themselves, and stay out of trouble most of the time. If Tomas is to have any chance of staying here, he need's to back off alittle, and finish races, period.

[JohnSSC]

True speed is being able to know when you are going as fast as the car is capable of. That capability changes with track conditions: traffic, tire wear, etc. Tomas seems to be unable to adjust - he just goes as fast as the car would be able to go in optimum conditions; even if the optimum conditions no longer exist.

The PT analogy is pretty good - I would argue that PT really has not settled down much either, but that is for another thread in some other forum.

Tomas Scheckter is the Kevin Cogan of this era: blazing speed with no concept as to how to utilize it.

[Mosport67]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

Tomas Scheckter is the Kevin Cogan of this era: blazing speed with no concept as to how to utilize it.

Maybe but he doesn't have the hair.

[JohnSSC]

Touche!

[JohnSSC]

Waaaay off topic, but since blondes were mentioned, Phil Parsons (NASCAR boy) was very blonde, very fast and VERY erratic!

Cogan was ridiculously fast though. When he screwed the pooch it was look out - big time!

Rustyfan's Avatar kind of sums up Cogan's racing "luck."

[DefntlyDiffrnt]

Scheckter - I just don't know about him. Of course I stopped calling him Wreckter so that's an improvement. His first 2 years I wanted him out of the league. Absolutely the worst thing to happen to a racetrack. He had 14 wrecks in those 2 seasons with 8 being in the first season. Just absolutely horrible. Then last year it seemed like there would be hope b/c Poncho Carter was keeping him between the lines and out of other drivers' cars but it still wasn't to be b/c the car wouldn't stay running. It made me start wondering if there had been any engineering changes on Panther's team. Were there? Now theyh've fired the voice of reason in his head and his wreckless, impatient driving have emerged again. We start this year with still...more DNFs. He has to have the worst luck ever! He will never be one of my favorites but I can certainly feel sorry for him.

In all of my frustration for Tomas the first 2 years he doesn't come close to how much of a menace I think A.J. Foyt IV or Matsuura are. Absolute track disasters everytime they field a car. Wow. I can't stand either one. When a driver, like Foyt IV, offer nothing engaging on the track besides their car with other cars then perhaps it's time to find another driver or go to another series. Two years he's changed the outcome of the Championships points b/c he knocked the leader out of the top coupled with having to miss a race b/c of injury. That's ridiculous. Ok....I'll stop ranting now.

[miamiyogi]

DefntlyDiffrnt,

I am having a hard time gauging how you feel here. Do you think Tomas is just a waste of time out there? I don't know sometimes I see a lot of intelligent driving by him and good strategy. I think the recent stuff is just rotten luck.

I know what its like to get frustrated, particularly when your driver is the one affected. I still can’t forgive Matsurra and can't stand to see him on the grid.

But I think lately much of what has been happening to Tomas isn't his fault.

[DefntlyDiffrnt]

Yeah I think that Tomas is just having some rotten luck now. The first 2 seasons were defntly him being impatient and wreckless. But the recent things - even last year were due to mechanical issues. I'd like to see him drive more disciplined but I can certainly see an improvement. So long as he keeps improving I got no beef with him out there.

Matsuura and Foyt IV are different. I want them out. Two years is enough - move along now.

[Kicking-back]

Foyt IV - I agree, he doesn't seem to have what it takes.

Matsuura - I think he's a good driver.

[GP Racer]

You guys are being pretty rough on AJ.

Consider his circumstances, he's driving a car with no engineer, except his grandpa, on a team that's on a shoestring budget, with a Toyota engine with no support, that has no chance of getting near the front, or a chassis that has any development at all. He's constantly fighting to get out of everyones way instead of actually racing anybody. I'm sure he is probably pushing harder than he should with that car, just so he can actually race somebody! How long can you do that?

Remember that other teams have shown interest in him, and he actually finished far more races than Sheckter did last year, with two top 10 finishes. I'd like to see him on a decent team, with a decent car before I write him off...

[Hazza]

The same as how i'd like to see a Foyt car with some proven steerer in it.

[N I Tram]

It's hard to make an accurate assessment of Foyt IV, for the reasons stated. He's certianly less wild than Tomas, although I'm unconvinced about any genuine pace he might have. Scheckter has had his chances and is still making msitakes, and I've a feeling that he's quite hard on the equipment which is causing the mechanical failures.

[GP Racer]

Originally Posted by Hazza

The same as how i'd like to see a Foyt car with some proven steerer in it.

That works to!

Either way we would find out the truth, although I don't see Kannan, Hornish, or Helio getting along to well with AJ senior!

[Snrub]

Originally Posted by GP Racer

Consider his circumstances, he's driving a car with no engineer, except his grandpa, on a team that's on a shoestring budget, with a Toyota engine with no support...

Good points. I find the lack of an engineer unbelievable! I can't figure out how anyone on the team has ever been in the same ballpark as anyone else. I know Gramps doesn't believe in engineers, but does he analyze the telemetry, etc. like an engineer would? You'd think one of these days someone like Penske would get really POed and tell AJ II "For god's sake, take a set of my engineers for a race!" When you say they get no support, do you mean that they're just given an engine and told to have fun or do you mean that they don't have a cosy relationship with Toyota like Penske and Ganassi do?

[GP Racer]

You would kind of think that the IRL would make it mandatory for a team to have an engineer just from a safety point of view. In a series where cars are racing so close and so fast, the drivers and crew chiefs should be working with engineers to make their cars handle as well as possible. Poor AJ spends most of his races just trying to stay out of the way, instead of actually racing. An engineer could only help make him a better driver.

As for Penske, and Toyota support, ie dollars, we all know the rumors that he gets it. But if you ask him, he denies it. I'm sure Toyota gives little or no support to AJ's team, or Vision or any of the other minnows. I believe they just get the engine, with no mods...

[Snrub]

Okay I understand what you're saying now. I thought you ment that Foyt didn't get access to a Toyota support Engineer. Having a rule mandating a race engineer is sort of odd. Do any of the IPS teams run without engineers? Someone needs to slap II upside the head and tell him to hire some engineering.

Under IRL rules the manufacturers are allowed to update their engines 3-4 times a year (can't remember the number). I suppose these are the "mods". I don't think it would make sense for Toyota to give the lesser teams completely different engines, because I think it would cost more to produce multiple specs of parts. It might make sense to give Penske and Ganassi one iteration newer of an engine if supplies/money were limited, but by the race before the next iteration came about, the lesser teams would likely be running the same spec.

Just for some related info/thoughts: Back when Dario was in Champ Car with Green, he was the Honda development driver. That ment that he always had the newest parts to try out before anyone else had them, including his teammate PT! I'm not sure if it is related, but at least post Houston incident, Dario was the driver Green wanted, while PT there because the sponsor wanted him.

[GP Racer]

One of the complaints with Toyota from last year is that they were very slow with the modifications due to there heavy workload in -whatelse? - the NASCAR truck series! I'm sure the situation hasn't improved, and will surely get even worse when they go Cup racing. So I'm quite sure that the Penskes and the Ganassis were first-up to get them, while the Foyts and other minnows were last on the list to get there's. Then trying to get the most out of the mods without an engineer is probably killing any chance of them getting better.

As for slappin AJ senior in the head, I don't think that'll have much effect, as he is known for being somewhat thickheaded!

[BSchneiderFan]

Perhaps oval racing just isn't for Scheckter? He was mighty quick when he stepped into F3000 mid-season with the McLaren junior squad (nearly won his first race, I think, possibly at Hockenheim?), so I don't believe it's as simple as a lack of talent.