Michael Andretti to compete in 500

[rush1]

Going for another try after being so close last year.

Again Andretti Green to field 5 cars in the 2007 Indianapolis 500.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...RTS01/70213054

[Neil22]

How big do they expect the field to be for Indy?

[rustyfan]

Great news, guess the success from last year left a fire burning that just couldn't be put out

As for the field, it will be as always: the haters will predict there will be no more than 25 cars while the dreamers predict there will be 40+ cars qualifying only to have just about 33-34 cars going for the 33 spots as usual.

[luke]

Lets see there is ages yet. How well wilL michael do? Don't think he'll win but money is on the other Andretti. Nice to see him back again and racing against his son.

[stradlin21]

they'll get 33 i'm sure

probably 34 or 35

some of the full time teams will enter an extra car and then you have all the one offs

Cheever will probably enter a car for Papis, Playa Del Racing, Team Leader, Sam Schmidt, PDM, Lyendyk and so on

good to see Michael having another shot

[Knowlesy]

Fantastic for Michael to be back. I do hope he gets a lucky break, he fully warrants his name being on the trophy at least once.

Lady Luck thinks otherwise!

[Mystery]

There will of course be 33 cars simply because there always are and TG could not stand losing face in not having them.

Maybe Team Owner could enlighten us but how difficult would it be for an IPS team to become an Indy 500 entrant overnight. How much of the infrastructure would need to be improved upon?

I only ask because I had the distinct impression that the IPS is in a half decent state - perhaps more so than the top series.

[stradlin21]

Originally Posted by Mystery

There will of course be 33 cars simply because there always are and TG could not stand losing face in not having them.

Maybe Team Owner could enlighten us but how difficult would it be for an IPS team to become an Indy 500 entrant overnight. How much of the infrastructure would need to be improved upon?

I only ask because I had the distinct impression that the IPS is in a half decent state - perhaps more so than the top series.

Roth has done it twice and so have Playa Del Racing

[Snips1]

Originally Posted by Mystery

There will of course be 33 cars simply because there always are and TG could not stand losing face in not having them.

Maybe Team Owner could enlighten us but how difficult would it be for an IPS team to become an Indy 500 entrant overnight. How much of the infrastructure would need to be improved upon?

I only ask because I had the distinct impression that the IPS is in a half decent state - perhaps more so than the top series.

You don't follow IPS very much I guess...
The IPS looks very strong this year with something like 22-24 cars for the full season, ayleasy 4 teasm have already talked about a potential Indy 500 program, Cheever, SSM, Team KMA and the team CR Crews is running for, can't remember the name

[Mystery]

Originally Posted by Snips1

You don't follow IPS very much I guess...
The IPS looks very strong this year with something like 22-24 cars for the full season, ayleasy 4 teasm have already talked about a potential Indy 500 program, Cheever, SSM, Team KMA and the team CR Crews is running for, can't remember the name

You could hardly be further from the truth with respect to my following of the IPS. Despite not having any coverage in the UK I'm a keen follower from afar and the story behind my previous post was that I had observed a fairly healthy looking 2007 IPS field without too many obvious TG paid for cars. Sadly reporting on IPS is virtually nil here so everything I pick up tends to be very second hand info.

I suspected it might be possible for these IPS teams to step up into a one off ride but had no specific knowledge so thought I'd just ask the question.

[luke]

Would be nice to see other great racers from the past such as Papis and Brack back.
Tony Stewart as well. Maybe some ex F1 drivers, current NASCAR drivers that's what the Indy 500 should be like IMHO. Would be nice to Jeff Gordon finally do it, wish he would. Casey Mears again as well. If they moved the start time back again it would be more feasable...Robby Gordon as well..
Even Barron....He was under rated. Is he doing Champ Car Atlantic's again this year?
Moreno as well...Wanting is one thing but actually happening is another..

[rustyfan]

If it wasn't for the altered starting time we'd see a couple of NASCAR drivers do the double each year, I'm sure.

Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon would definitely be back, no question about it. Casey Mears and Kasey Kahne would probably try the double as well.

There are some other drivers who have expressed interest in giving the Indy 500 a shot, but out of those I think Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the few who would actually be prepared to try it.

[Alex Toropov]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

If it wasn't for the altered starting time we'd see a couple of NASCAR drivers do the double each year, I'm sure.

Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon would definitely be back, no question about it. Casey Mears and Kasey Kahne would probably try the double as well.

There are some other drivers who have expressed interest in giving the Indy 500 a shot, but out of those I think Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the few who would actually be prepared to try it.

Sorry, but what is the point about Kahne and Dale Jr doing Indy 500?

Ok, it makes some sense for Casey Mears to race there, as he has some open wheel experience; for Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon, obviously, and maybe even JJ Yeley, as IRL was supposed to be the series for this kind of guys (from open wheel dirttracking).

But Kahne and Dale Jr... I just can't imagine them doing anything (good or bad) in single seater... yeah, they are decent racers and sometimes look brilliant, but for me they are pure stock car racers.... wrong perception?... Don't know too much about past racing experience of Kasey, but Dale Jr, I reckon, didn't drive anything but stock cars since at least late 90's (ok, he did some races in endurance-racing Corvettes, but it's still a tin top).

Of course, Stewart (and Gordon with Mears to some extent) proved, that it's possible to be more or less successfull in stock cars, coming from single seater racing, but is it realistic to do this the other way around, especially if it's only one-off at Indy, not a complete switch with some years of "practicing".... (Tony, Casey, JJ - they all spent at least one season in Busch Series, and I reckon, tested cars for their future Cup teams) ....before trying to fight for top places in highest division races.

I think, IRL would not mind to have Earnhardt, Kahne and Jeff Gordon racing in between Indy 500 regulars, but I have serious doubts, that these drivers will find it very attractive from racer perspective and therefore will consider it for real, not just annually dreaming in interviews "Yeah, I wanna be at Indy... not this year, but next year for sure".

After all, they already have Brickyard 400, where they clearly have better chances to succeed in their racing life.

[baclightning]

Originally Posted by Alex Toropov

Sorry, but what is the point about Kahne and Dale Jr doing Indy 500?

But Kahne and Dale Jr... I just can't imagine them doing anything (good or bad) in single seater... yeah, they are decent racers and sometimes look brilliant, but for me they are pure stock car racers.... wrong perception?... Don't know too much about past racing experience of Kasey, but Dale Jr, I reckon, didn't drive anything but stock cars since at least late 90's (ok, he did some races in endurance-racing Corvettes, but it's still a tin top).

I think, IRL would not mind to have Earnhardt, Kahne and Jeff Gordon racing in between Indy 500 regulars, but I have serious doubts, that these drivers will find it very attractive from racer perspective and therefore will consider it for real, not just annually dreaming in interviews "Yeah, I wanna be at Indy... not this year, but next year for sure".

Kasey Kahne's background is primarily in single-seaters. He won the USAC Midget championship in 2000, and won 13 national USAC races (11 midget and two Silver Crown) from 1999 to 2001. Before signing with NASCAR, he had an IRL test with Panther Racing. It was a huge disappointment to the open-wheel community when he signed with NASCAR, as he was exactly the kind of young successful sprint car driver that the IRL needed.

Morever, Kahne has made no secret of the fact that his ultimate goal in racing is not to win the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship, but the Indy 500. In this article, which covers his open-wheel career in detail, he is quoted as saying,

"But I've got to win the [NASCAR] championship first," he said. "After that, I think I can talk people into it. Of course that's definitely my heart talking."

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...608040422/1054

Kahne drives stock cars for a living, and I'm sure that he loves doing so. But by both experience and inclination, he'd be perfect in the Indy 500.

[BootsOntheSide]

Maybe even JPM?

33 cars is vital for the championship's reputation, but it seems to get harder every year. More expensive for Tony George and his people, I dare say.

Whatever, the front of the field should be very strong, and Mikey will bolster it further. We saw last year that he can still put up a challenge when circumstances are right.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

33 cars is vital for the championship's reputation, but it seems to get harder every year. More expensive for Tony George and his people, I dare say.

Robin Miller wrote in Autosport last week that Tony George had "supported" 11 cars to gain entry in last years 500.

[stradlin21]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Robin Miller wrote in Autosport last week that Tony George had "supported" 11 cars to gain entry in last years 500.

yes and Miller is well known for his stupid opinions on the IRL

he is involved with the champ car webiste and is one of those people that just loves to talk trash about the IRL and George at every chance, pretty pathetic really

if George funded as many cars as people say then he would have bought himself a load of Dallara's and slapped 'Vision Racing' on the side of them!!

Vision filed four entries for the 06 500 but only ran three! surely George would rather run his own extra car then fund somebody elses???

he probably didnt fund 11 cars at all, but people believe what they want to believe

another case of Champ Car people picking at the IRL's problems then focussing on there own series' issues

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by stradlin21

yes and Miller is well known for his stupid opinions on the IRL

Is he ? The thing I have always found good about Miller is that he'll bag anything. Whether IRL, CC, Nascar, F1. He calls them as he sees them.

Originally Posted by stradlin21

another case of Champ Car people picking at the IRL's problems then focussing on there own series' issues

You obviously have pretty selective viewing of what goes on around here.

[Snips1]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Is he ? The thing I have always found good about Miller is that he'll bag anything. Whether IRL, CC, Nascar, F1. He calls them as he sees them.





You obviously have pretty selective viewing of what goes on around here.

You must be joking or you don't follow the sport ver closely

[Mystery]

The Indy 500 is really the big showcase for the series and having those drivers in it would help bring the big bucks in - so why on earth TG moved the start time to stop them doing it I don't know (or am I wrong there and Nascar changed their times???). One of those illogical things that seem to pepper OW racing at the moment.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by Mystery

The Indy 500 is really the big showcase for the series and having those drivers in it would help bring the big bucks in - so why on earth TG moved the start time to stop them doing it I don't know (or am I wrong there and Nascar changed their times???). One of those illogical things that seem to pepper OW racing at the moment.

If I'm not mistaken it was ABC who wanted to see the new starting time of the race.

[luke]

Well yeah his vast experience definately will help in a long oval race, as we saw him move up the field..

Another is Al unser Jr? He wasn't good at all last year but will he be tempted yet again?

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by luke

Well yeah his vast experience definately will help in a long oval race, as we saw him move up the field..

Another is Al unser Jr? He wasn't good at all last year but will he be tempted yet again?

With Al Jr. sadly being arrested for drunk driving again, after being clean for quite some time I think, I'm not so sure he'd be able to make another comeback.

[JohnSSC]

I know that NASCAR has not been very pleased with their drivers crossing over either.

Even before the change in start time, the logistics were a nightmare. I remember Robbie Gordon's various attempts required timing the transportation just so. To me, the focus on getting to the various helicopters and private planes couldn't help but affect the driver's focus on either race.

The point made earlier by Craig about $$ is the main thing. The teams are barely getting by as is without adding the cost to lease a car/equipment.

I don't think Brack wants to be on the same track as Papis! When they were team mates at Rahal Papis put Brack out of two different races while Brack was leading the CART Championship....

[luke]

This is not the time or place for remarks such as that....