NASCAR points leader Busch eyes F1 test

[Bononi]

That would be great, but I read an article somewhere (can't remember where) that your motorsport are experiencing a boost of nationalism, the audience demanding all-american series, which seems to go against any support for a driver outside USA.

[Denosaur]

Could it be the fact that the USA and Europe seem to live in there own secular societies that there's an issue for drivers from either side of the Atlantic to make it on opposite sides?? It's almost borderline racisms if aspiring talent should be hobbled by which side of the pond they come from.

Great for Kyle and possibly great for F1 if he does well and they some potential in him.

[JohnSSC]

Originally Posted by Bononi

That would be great, but I read an article somewhere (can't remember where) that your motorsport are experiencing a boost of nationalism, the audience demanding all-american series, which seems to go against any support for a driver outside USA.

Not aware of any formal movement regarding that, Bononi. If you find the article I would be interested in reading it though.

Denosaur makes a good point about the lack of cross-Atlantic pollination. American drivers are not always made to feel "welcome" in "European" Series and I am sad to say that we Americans have reciprocated at times when racers have come over here.

Perhaps we, as fans, should be less protective of our "turf."

[Taprobane]

But where would he go if he seriously wanted a race seat?

There just aren't enough available seats in F1.

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

Not aware of any formal movement regarding that, Bononi. If you find the article I would be interested in reading it though.

Oh, I'll try to find it somewhere, it was related to "The fall of the open-wheelers series and the rise of Nascar, an all-american style of racing"...

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Taprobane

But where would he go if he seriously wanted a race seat?

There just aren't enough available seats in F1.

Toyota would be the obvious choice. And I'm pretty confident they'll have at least one seat available come next season.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Bononi

That would be great, but I read an article somewhere (can't remember where) that your motorsport are experiencing a boost of nationalism, the audience demanding all-american series, which seems to go against any support for a driver outside USA.

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

Not aware of any formal movement regarding that, Bononi.

i think it is an amendment to the patriot act.

NASCAR is tops racing in the states. kyle is dominating all three of NASCAR's top divisions and happens to drive a Toyota. this is the only reason we speak of such things. he'll wreck another dozen or so cars this year, one may include an F1 Toyota, and this will soon be just a bad dream.

[Bononi]

I'm sure this is not the same article, but it shows how they think

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...elers1110.html

[vinegar]

How much is Busch earning in NASCAR? Way more than an F1 rookie, I'd guess. Unless he was willing to take a very hefty pay cut, he'd find it hard to find an F1 seat.

Although it's just possible he'd make sense at Toyota if they continue their policy of money no object, success not the aim, look at the publicity.

Pretty unlikely he'll switch, I'd have thought.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Bononi

I'm sure this is not the same article, but it shows how they think

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...elers1110.html

that article is about keeping NASCAR american as possible, not US racing in general, but i see your point.

Juan Pablo entering NASCAR would be like kyle entering F1; the "normal old school" audience thinks they are out of place. we have come a long way, and most race fans think of racers as racers, regardless of backgorund....

well, i do at least.

[Bononi]

Yeah, like I said I couldn't find the original one, I thought it was in a magazine not a web one... anyway I guess you're right: Race, not talking.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

that article is about keeping NASCAR american as possible, not US racing in general, but i see your point.

Juan Pablo entering NASCAR would be like kyle entering F1; the "normal old school" audience thinks they are out of place. we have come a long way, and most race fans think of racers as racers, regardless of backgorund....

well, i do at least.

I've got to disagree with you. I think racing has become so specialized that it is almost impossible for driver's to cross disiplines. Steve Kinser is a great example that comes to me... on dirt, he's the king. In a stockcar?... Not so much.

Either way, I hope ol' snot head gets a chance. It's good exposure for F1 in the US and I'm sure he'll park it in a wall.

[deeks6]

Can't think of any reason why he would not go well ... was impressed with his road racing and I think the long-held view by Europeans that US (predominatly) oval racers cannot compete is silly. There is a very long list of great US drivers that prove the lie to that one. Jeff Gordon is one I would have liked to see have a crack from the current lot.

However, I agree with the view that $$$ might keep Kyle in stock cars for the rest of his career. The one thing that could sway it is his ego ... and, if he did, he would certainly be a "target" much the same as Michael Andretti was some years back.

[Kirk]

Though he has a soured view of F1 it seems, JPM has some interesting insight on this subject:

_______________
Montoya believes it will be impossible for Busch to go straight from racing predominantly on NASCAR's ovals to a "proper" F1 test.

"The first problem is your neck. You need to train for months to be able to hold it up," he said.

"They give you a day or a half a day, but you're not going to do anything and nobody is going to look at you."

http://www.homeofsport.com/f1/news/item.aspx?id=22043

[deeks6]

Good points by JPM

I could also be facetious and ask did he ever do 5 (good) laps in a row?

[Bononi]

Oooops... let's focus on the NASCAR guy.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

I've got to disagree with you. I think racing has become so specialized that it is almost impossible for driver's to cross disiplines. Steve Kinser is a great example that comes to me... on dirt, he's the king. In a stockcar?... Not so much.

Either way, I hope ol' snot head gets a chance. It's good exposure for F1 in the US and I'm sure he'll park it in a wall.

i agree about the specialization and the difficulty of "crossing over". just because they are specialized, doesn't mean they don't want the chance to drive something different; which is what i meant. i did not mean they would be able to accel; ray-cers love ray-cin anything reeeeal fayst, so why not give them a shot?

i've been wanting ANY popular driver from the US to get a chance in F1 to gain this exposure of which you speak. right now, the younger Busch sister (aka Capt SnotHead) is the hottest driver around, so yeah, give him a shot. i hope he doesn't embarrass himself and possibly make the F1 community scoff even more at the US drivers.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by deeks6

Can't think of any reason why he would not go well ... was impressed with his road racing and I think the long-held view by Europeans that US (predominatly) oval racers cannot compete is silly.

his first win on a road course this year came in a car that has won 8 out of 12 races this year (NW series) with 3 different drivers. not to take away his win or anything, but kyle had previously had horrible road races.