Best "of rest" driver

[Snrub]

I think this season has produced some interesting results and some surprise performances (both positive and negative). NH and Forsythe are still the dominant teams, despite Forsythe dropping back of NH this year. So who do you think is the best "of the rest" driver? Back up your choice with your reasons for selecting them.

[macdaddy]

This is quite a tough question, Snrub! It's difficult for me to narrow it down to less than four!

I think Tag is a very talented pilot. And consideration must be given to AJ and Wilson, two rookies who are posting some fine results this year.

But, my vote goes to Haberfeld, it's my opinion that he'd be blazingly-quick if he had a well setup Lola.

[BootsOntheSide]

Quite a tough question. A year ago it was easily Jourdain, but he's completely off-form right now, maybe due to engineering weaknesses.

It's between AJ, Tag and Servia really. AJ's been impressive for a rookie, although I suspect he gets the best of everythign at RuSport, Servia shows that Coyne needed a good driver to be competitive, but I'm giving it to Tagliani who has been long overdue a breakthrough.

[codename_47]

Servia deserves a medal for hauling that Dayle Coyne car into the points consistently, in my opinion.

And AJ Allemendinger has really impressed too, shows no fear at taking on the established stars of the sport, but also has the decency to admit it when that attitude brings him trouble, now and again.

Those two have impressed me the most this year. Along with Wilson, but he's been having a trying time of it recently.
Look for him to star next year though, I think!

[macdaddy]

I notice that the poll doesn't include Gonzales, Mazzacane, Philippe or Smith.
Write-in ballots are accepted!
I might expect at least one vote into that list!

[Jordi]

Oriol, of course. Many saw his move to Coyne as just the only thing he could get but he is making it work beautifully. Might be the best chance yet for Coyne to win one!

[macdaddy]

He's already been in position to do exactly that, Jordi.
In mid-race scenerios, so has his teammate!
I agree that if the team can do a bit more homework on their pitstops, Coyne will see his very first victory soon.

[Kicking-back]

It's Wilson.

Doing his best in a struggling team.

[dubby99]

I voted for AJA. His only a rookie and is starting to establish in his good qualifing performance that he will pull of a win by the end of the year i hope.

He is currently 1st in the rookie of the year championship and has a 31 point lead over Wilson.

[enemy-ace]

This is a very difficult question. Tag has his first win and is on points the 'best of the rest', but then Servia is doing a brilliant job in the Coyne car. He is probably driving his best season ever. The rookie AJ Almendinger has fulfilled his promise and seems to be only getting stronger. All three drivers in very different stages of their careers and all three doing wonderful jobs.
My vote goes to Servia though. I think he has been the most consistent considering that he is arguably driving in the worst team.
Not that they aren't getting better, it's just that both Rocketsports and Rusport know how to win races. Coyne isn't there yet but Servia seems to have the fire and talent to try and take them there. Just compare his performances to another relatively inexperienced team like PKV who have a very experienced driver in their car. Vasser isn't doing what Servia is.

[drewdawg727]

definitely mr. haberfeld
he is driving that reynard into the GROUND basically

[Omega99]

I'd have to go with Tag. AJ is good, don't get me wrong, but I think if I were to give him my vote, it would be based solely on his potential rather than his current status. Ask me again next year.

[Snrub]

For those of you who said it was a hard question, the reason I asked was because I can't decide it myself. I think Dominguez and Tag are probably the ones I'd lean towards. It's really hard to gauge Wilson and Haberfeld because Wilson can end up anywhere on any given weekend and Haberfeld has a small team and inferrior chasis. AJ is really good and RuSport is so new yet they sometimes succeed. I wonder if Jourdain is really that off this year or if AJ is just that good? A lot of the footage I've seen of Jourdain reveals a very evil handling car. Servia's technical prowess is probably second to none in the series, but then again we always assume Coyne's engineering stinks, which may not be entirely true. Contrast to Mi-Jack with Wilson and it can't be too bad... Jimmy can't pull a Servia with his team, but I've been very impressed with him this year and last.

Originally posted by macdaddy
I notice that the poll doesn't include Gonzales, Mazzacane, Philippe or Smith.
Write-in ballots are accepted!
I might expect at least one vote into that list!

And Sperafico or Gidly. I'll actually get upset if someone picks Mazzacane.

[luke]

Or Philippe

[racinthestreets]

AJ. He is a talent and will be a star. He is with a first year team and a first year driver. Look at what he has shown is possible. He is fast, he is sneaky fast like Bourdais IMO. AJA amd RuSport will be contenders for the championship in short time. Possibly next year but most certainly no later than 2006.