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29 Jun 2004, 18:16 (Ref:1020403)
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#1 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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Mark Taylor Gone ......
The news released today by Panther Racing is that the team and Mark Taylor have decided to go their separate ways effective now...
They have not named a driver for this weekend's race at Kansas... I don't think this news is a surprise to any of us... He had his moments, and has been fairly quick in qualifying in some races (just look at last weekend), but he hit a lot of walls this year.... Now I have to go over and "Change" my "Pick 'ems" for this weekend... Unless everyone will just concede those 2 points to me....since he will be the "First Out of the Race" 
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__________________
Finally... One American Open Wheel Series! |
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29 Jun 2004, 18:27 (Ref:1020431)
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#2 | |
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Registered User
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,661
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Mark would probably be best coming home and trying for a GP2 drive next year.
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29 Jun 2004, 18:33 (Ref:1020442)
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#3 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,900
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Thats a shame. He did indeed have his moments, but it's clear that the IndyCar Series was a bit too much.
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__________________
I can't drive 55. |
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29 Jun 2004, 18:39 (Ref:1020451)
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#4 | |
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,419
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The question now is... who will land that seat at Panther?
In the right hands it should be a competitive effort (one that, to be frank, keeps it off the walls and off other cars), so I reckon quite a few people will be interested in it... Ah, it's like Silly Season never ended 
Last edited by rustyfan; 29 Jun 2004 at 18:39. |
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29 Jun 2004, 18:46 (Ref:1020462)
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#5 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,376
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Yeah, no surprise there. He needed a good, clean race at Richmond, and he didn't deliver it. It seemed like a mutual decision, so I think Mark knew the gig was up.
I'm hoping for Jeff Simmons to get the ride. What are the chances? |
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__________________
"I don't feel insecure about 'being girlie'. I do as much media as I can because I want this IRL series to be so kick-butt that NASCAR goes, 'Huh?'" Danica Patrick |
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29 Jun 2004, 18:55 (Ref:1020473)
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#6 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,900
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Thats a good call, GP. I hope Simmons gets the ride
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__________________
I can't drive 55. |
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29 Jun 2004, 19:57 (Ref:1020557)
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#7 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,000
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Jeff Simmons would be ideal, he's showed that he has the pace and drove a steady 500. Menard might be reggretting loaning Meira out?
So far none of you have considered the other posisbility - what if there will be no #2 car for the balance of the season? Maybe they've ran out of money for it, or the partnership between Menard and Barnes has fallen apart? |
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29 Jun 2004, 20:46 (Ref:1020634)
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#8 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,900
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That may very well be the case, but by the looks of it it was a driver/team split up and considering Mark's performance that would seem to be the case.
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__________________
I can't drive 55. |
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29 Jun 2004, 21:07 (Ref:1020683)
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#9 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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Quote:
The headline on the IRL site said "Panther to Replace Mark Taylor"... The actual copy within the story didn't say that....it said they have not named a driver for this weekend... Menard has the money and a full-season sponsor deal for his end of that partnership.... I see them naming another driver....and there are plenty out there.... The guy I'd like to see get a seat is Richie hearn, but he is running his own Star Mazda team (and he's not driving them...young hot shots are) and will be with them at Lime Rock this weekend.... Menard nad barnes have both been good at picking up excellent young talent.... Simmons would be a very good choice.... |
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__________________
Finally... One American Open Wheel Series! |
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29 Jun 2004, 21:50 (Ref:1020740)
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#10 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,900
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And of course, John Menard has a bit of a reputation with drivers...
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__________________
I can't drive 55. |
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29 Jun 2004, 22:33 (Ref:1020807)
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#11 | |
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Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 529
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Oh, really?
This may surprise some people (GPRacer, I hope you're sitting down)...but I think Branes might be smart to hire an American driver. It would be a good "PR/Diplomatic" move, IMO. It's a shame Taylor didn't work out. I'm kinda partial to Brits and he seemed like a nice guy...but nice ain't gonna cut it in racin  GP, I sent you a PM....just to say "hi", etc... |
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30 Jun 2004, 00:41 (Ref:1020866)
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#12 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 195
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i heard Taylors replacement for Kansas at least will be Townsend Bell, and Simmons will be taking over for Little Al.. (all unofficial hearsay off course!)
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30 Jun 2004, 01:06 (Ref:1020872)
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,376
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Quote:
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30 Jun 2004, 01:22 (Ref:1020877)
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#14 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 195
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panther website
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30 Jun 2004, 01:33 (Ref:1020885)
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#15 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,376
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Your right jenna, Speed is reporting that Bell is in for Kansas, although the team hasn't confirmed that.
And Al Jr. will be announcing his retirement Wedensday, but there is no mention of Simmons. I think its a good thing for Al. He's just not competitive anymore, and its time to move on. I wish him luck! |
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__________________
"I don't feel insecure about 'being girlie'. I do as much media as I can because I want this IRL series to be so kick-butt that NASCAR goes, 'Huh?'" Danica Patrick |
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30 Jun 2004, 01:37 (Ref:1020889)
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#16 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 195
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well i hope Simmons gets his ride, i like him, he did well at the 500..
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30 Jun 2004, 05:03 (Ref:1020966)
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#17 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 358
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Bell? Didn't he crash a lot too ? I remember that John Menard was high on Bell for a while but he crashed testing a Cart car the day before he was to get a seat fitted to replace Jaques Lazier in 2002. Pretty nasty crash IIRC. Nothings ever calm when John Menards around.
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__________________
Money is the fuel of any race team |
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30 Jun 2004, 06:58 (Ref:1021018)
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#18 | ||
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Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 12,053
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A shame for Mark Taylor , he just needed alot more seat time and to start finishing races.
I hope he can find something to race as I think he has potential. anyway good luck to him whatever he does. I read too that Townsend bell may take the ride , Im gonna reserve my judgement on him as I think this could turn out to be a worse move for Panther. No idea about the Patrick ride as of yet (that I know of) but there are sure alot of guys around who could pedal the thing hard. |
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__________________
In Loving memory of Peter Brock I hate it when im driving in a straight line & Seb Vettel runs into me GO THE MIGHTY HAWKS !!!! |
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30 Jun 2004, 07:05 (Ref:1021025)
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#19 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,512
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I just wonder why firing replacing him a few days before a race: the newbie, whoever heis, will not have much time to get used with the car, thus he'll hardly perform better.
About possible names, a personal hypothesis: Kenny Brack? Why not? After all at Rahal the current drivers are doing very fine, and there's no reason to out one of them aside. And, we know, expanding the lineup to 3 drivers means a lot of complex and costly operations on staff and organisation. |
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__________________
You got to learn how to fall, before you learn to fly P.Simon |
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30 Jun 2004, 07:25 (Ref:1021041)
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#20 | |
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Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,885
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I guess one question this raises, is how good is the IPS? Taylor did well there, but flopped in the big league.
Townsend has a reputation for explosive accidents, so it will be interesting to see if he can keep it in one piece. |
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__________________
Wolverines! |
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30 Jun 2004, 07:56 (Ref:1021063)
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#21 | ||
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Racer
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 195
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looks like panther will be providing all of the entertainment ie crashes this season!
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30 Jun 2004, 08:03 (Ref:1021071)
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#22 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,809
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Quote:
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__________________
Birmingham City FC. Founded 1875. League Cup Winners 2011. |
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30 Jun 2004, 08:18 (Ref:1021088)
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#23 | ||
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Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 12,053
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good point Ensign , but just on jeff's Indy performance I think he deserves at least another race or 2.
I personally think Taylor should have stayed till the end of the year at least , he's talented but just needs more experience , he cant get that now on the sidelines can he
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__________________
In Loving memory of Peter Brock I hate it when im driving in a straight line & Seb Vettel runs into me GO THE MIGHTY HAWKS !!!! |
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30 Jun 2004, 08:35 (Ref:1021102)
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#24 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,512
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Isn't it possible that he simply exhausted his budget, with all those crashes?
It would be a matter of money rather than of results... |
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__________________
You got to learn how to fall, before you learn to fly P.Simon |
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30 Jun 2004, 08:46 (Ref:1021111)
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#25 | |
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,419
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If Townsend Bell does get the ride, I hope he has matured a bit as a driver - remember that the reason he was thrown out from Champ Car in the first place was that he had a knack of sending himself, and his fellow drivers, into the wall (IIRC).
Hopefully his stint in Formula 3000 has done some good though. |
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