Dan Clarke eyes the IRL with Panther

[luke]

God, as if he wasn't a hazard in CC now on the ovals? You decide...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64741

[andy_b]

that was my first thought too!

[mountainstar]

I love how he sees Panther as a climbing ladder on his way to penske. I'm sure panther loves the thought of that.

Overall he never has really impressed and has had a lot of stupid incidents. I'm sure the irl will love to have him.

[stradlin21]

interesting how he goes from good prospect for the future into walking disaster zone overnight.....


must be something to do with him potentially turning his back on champ car......

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

interesting how he goes from good prospect for the future into walking disaster zone overnight.....


must be something to do with him potentially turning his back on champ car......

Not at all fair. Dan was certainly looking promising in 2006, but much hope was lost in 2007. It is time for new scenery.

I think he could do a good job in Indycar, and he does have some serious raw talent, but I can well understand why Champcar fans are glad to see the back of him. He probably should have left mid-2007...

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Not at all fair. Dan was certainly looking promising in 2006, but much hope was lost in 2007. It is time for new scenery.

I think he could do a good job in Indycar, and he does have some serious raw talent, but I can well understand why Champcar fans are glad to see the back of him. He probably should have left mid-2007...

He always seemed to keep involved in one stupid incident after another. Certainly he has some speed or probably better said some daring, but you've got to keep that on the road and finish races without hitting other solid objects.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

interesting how he goes from good prospect for the future into walking disaster zone overnight.....


must be something to do with him potentially turning his back on champ car......

Well I've never really been a fan. But if you want him you can have him.

[luke]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

interesting how he goes from good prospect for the future into walking disaster zone overnight.....


must be something to do with him potentially turning his back on champ car......

I do love the way you categorize members of this forum into two groups, CC fans or IRL fans. This isn't CCF or TF ya know.

As for me, I did like Clarke because he is English and in 2006 he has some good races for his rookie status and was fast. However if you actually watched you'd see how dangerous he was in CC. Crashing out under yellows just one example. If he were to race on the ovals at high speed, I sure wouldn't want to be wheel to wheel with him at 220mph or whatever.

[andy_b]

i dont think he's really been a good prospect since the early part of his first season really. he was completed walked over by Dornboss last year.

[foreversideways]

Mmmmmmm an excess of optimism over ability i think, considering he hasn't set foot on an oval yet. He certainly will have to temper his driving if he wants to see 2009, assuming he ends up in IRL. What was that old phrase about "old and bold indy drivers' !!!.

[cptkablamo]

or dear god...have fun scraping all those cars off those oval walls...although I would be happy to proven wrong...

As for me, I won't be sad to see him out of CCWS...

[drdisque]

In reality he sounds more like a candidate for the second SAMAX car or second D&R car.

His Ticketmaster money+TEAM should be enough to fund a ride for the year.

[climb]

Strangely none of the previous posts focus on the main problem which Clarke indicates as the real reason of his switch to IRL:

"The only drivers who can survive in Champ Car are the ones who have sponsors," he told Autosport. "I love racing in America and I want to start earning a living here."

Then CC fans may be happy about him leaving but that means one more empty spot on the grid for CC, and one more pay driver needed.

[stradlin21]

Originally Posted by climb

Strangely none of the previous posts focus on the main problem which Clarke indicates as the real reason of his switch to IRL:

"The only drivers who can survive in Champ Car are the ones who have sponsors," he told Autosport. "I love racing in America and I want to start earning a living here."

Then CC fans may be happy about him leaving but that means one more empty spot on the grid for CC, and one more pay driver needed.

don't mention pay drivers! they throw a paddy about it

but it's an excellent point you make

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by climb

"The only drivers who can survive in Champ Car are the ones who have sponsors," he told Autosport. "I love racing in America and I want to start earning a living here."

Whats the difference between buying a ride in IRL compared to buying a ride in ChampCar ?

[climb]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Whats the difference between buying a ride in IRL compared to buying a ride in ChampCar ?

You should ask Matos, not me

Apparently it's easier on the Indy side, if one is keen to miss a 2 million dollar prize.

[andy_b]

well, he has/did have sizeable sponsorship from Ticketmaster and a little from Highland Spring ( so I suspect he was a pay driver in 07). Maybe Ticketmaster (UK I believe) want him in IRL?

[climb]

thanks stradlin

Moreover it should be noticed that a team like Panther was sufficient to convice Dan; a team which is not surely among the richest ever.

[Knowlesy]

The point about pay drivers is hardly a revelation though. It is more or less common knowledge for years and no doubt discussed in many threads by now!

But back to Dan, I think he could do good job in Indycar. It is such a different discipline that he will have to reassess his approach. Therefore, I don't foresee him stacking into walls every race or causing huge incidents. It may be the break he requires to instill some much needed discipline into his driving.

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

But back to Dan, I think he could do good job in Indycar. It is such a different discipline that he will have to reassess his approach. Therefore, I don't foresee him stacking into walls every race or causing huge incidents. It may be the break he requires to instill some much needed discipline into his driving.

Fingers crossed, never like seeing anyone in a single seater stack it 'Dan-style' into oval walls, Safer barriers or not

[stradlin21]

i don't post on CCF or TF, i have no interest too

i don't have any contacts on here, i don't hunt in packs or get myself egg'd on by others mate. i'm here as an individual.

but back to Clarke, he can get adjusted to the ovals

remember how erratic Ed Carpenter was at Cheever, he improved, so can Dan

[Jimmy Magnusson]

You never know, really. It's such a different form of racing. However, you do get the feeling that Dan could use a fresh start because Champ Car wasn't really going that great.

[juicy sushi]

i think that dan lacks the precision required for oval racing. good oval racers are very smooth and precise drivers. those are not adjectives i think i'd ever apply to his driving. there are a few CCWS drivers who might be good candidates for such a transition, and justin wilson, oriol servia, simon pagenaud and possibly graham rahal come to mind. but i really don't think dan clarke has what it takes to run well on an oval...

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by juicy sushi

i think that dan lacks the precision required for oval racing. good oval racers are very smooth and precise drivers. those are not adjectives i think i'd ever apply to his driving. there are a few CCWS drivers who might be good candidates for such a transition, and justin wilson, oriol servia, simon pagenaud and possibly graham rahal come to mind. but i really don't think dan clarke has what it takes to run well on an oval...

I don't even think he's ever even been on an oval before.

[JohnSSC]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

I don't even think he's ever even been on an oval before.

Started 11th and finished 8th at Milwaukee in 2006...