Andretti's Racing Passions Differ.

Dov · 18 Apr 2003, 22:44 (Ref:573592)

This from The Sports Network (TSN). http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/news_Story.asp?ID=38043

Snrub · 19 Apr 2003, 01:10 (Ref:573659)

"He's just not enjoying driving as much as he should."
"That's where Michael and I differ. He really loves the business side of racing. I hated it. When we used to have to sit down with the accountant, all I wanted to do was get done and get out. Michael wanted to know everything about what the guy was saying."

What do you guys think, has Michael's lack of motivation been the factor that rendered him uncompetitive on road courses?

Mario embodies what I think fans want from all racers, that they like doing it. If you don't enjoy it they're no point in being there. I hate it how business seems to come long before all else. Clearly people got into it because they enjoyed it. If you're not enjoying yourself, step aside and let someone else race.

I think this is much of the problem with F1. The remaining fan base is not as interested in the actual racing as they are in team competition and technology.

Dov · 19 Apr 2003, 02:47 (Ref:573699)

If Mikey's heart isn't in it annymore then he should retire. I just wish he was retiring from CART and not the IRL. Then maybe my last thoughts of his racing career would be good ones. Well, no chance in hell of that now. He made his bed and now he will have to sleep in it. Now what can we say about F1 fans. CART has always been my #1 favourite racing series, but F1 was pretty close at one time. Over the past four or five years my interest in F1 has gone down gradually. Just like you said Snrub, the remaining F1 fan base is not as interested in the actual racing as they are in team competition and technology. That would also include the heads of F1 (Teams, Bernie E. and Mad Max Mosley). That's why CART has always been my favourite racing series...the fans, team owners and Chris Pook always make "actual racing" their first priority.

bcobbus · 19 Apr 2003, 03:49 (Ref:573723)

It was great to see Mario race for Panoz at Le Mans a few years ago. Amazing he never won the event.

Snrub · 19 Apr 2003, 16:57 (Ref:574172)

It would be interesting to see Mario in a top level race where the physical aspect wasn't as important. I wonder how competitive he could be on an oval in CART? What about Nascar?

Dov · 19 Apr 2003, 19:20 (Ref:574271)

Mario may not be as physically fit as he was in his younger days, but with his renowned driving skills and quick reflexes, I still think he could compete in CART. Even if Mario's driving skills or fitness is 1/4 of what they used to be...he would still be better then half of today's CART field. The physical aspect might be a little hard for him, but I think Mario is mentally as sharp as ever.

Snrub · 20 Apr 2003, 00:53 (Ref:574458)

'Physical' driving also requires the reflexes one looses as they age. He still seems plenty sharp, but people retain that through ensuring their brain gets exercise. Regardless, I bet Mario would be impressive but I'm not so sure he could compete on a road/street course in CART. Who knows, it's all speculation.

**GTRMagic** · 20 Apr 2003, 05:32 (Ref:574547)

Nothing wrong with wanting to understand the business side of it, but if a professional race driver wants to know more about that than tuning up his race chassis, the guy should get out now before he has a serious accident...

Damon Hill in F1 is an example of someone whose body was in the seat in his last year in the sport, but his mind & spirit were not in the same place.

Liz · 21 Apr 2003, 11:02 (Ref:575474)

Quote:

Originally posted by Snrub
'Physical' driving also requires the reflexes one looses as they age

I was at Le Mans in 2000 and saw Mario save the Panoz at 190 mph when it blew a tire coming off a very fast corner. For a man of 60+, that was an exercise to inspire the most callous fan! (Even those of us who had noted with despair that he was 8 seconds off the pace and his co-drivers were triple-stinting to make up the time.) Mario's reflexes at 62 are much better than Mikey's ever were.

Sir Jackie Stewart was a businessman as well as a driver, but he kept the passion until Cevert was killed -- when he walked away. Mikey will be much happier when he is out scrounging for financing instead of wasting everyone's time on the trac. The ony bad thing about this will be that he will have much more time for public whining.

True Believer · 22 Apr 2003, 03:00 (Ref:576074)

Mike Andretti is a dud who has traded on his father's name his whole career. He has a serious attitude problem, its almost as if he believes the racing world owes him a living

For a guy who has had so much first rate machinery in his career, he hasnt translated it into results

GTRMagic is right, get out now before you hurt someone Mikey

Tailwind · 22 Apr 2003, 05:29 (Ref:576120)

I've never liked Michael. I've always thought that he was spoiled and acted like racing owed him something. I agree that his father's name carried him a ways and got him into places he might not have been able to go on his own. However, there is only so far the family name will get you and then you have to prove yourself. Michael had 309 Champ Car starts, 32 poles, 98 finishes on the podium, and 42 wins. That, in my opinion, are pretty damn good results.

True Believer · 22 Apr 2003, 06:25 (Ref:576148)

Not doubting the results, but if his name was Fred Smith from Potatotown, Idaho (No offence intended to Idahoians) without a family heritage, would he get a factory deal for chassis or engine he seemed to wangle at different points of his career??? Somehow I doubt it...

And I dont even want to discuss the McLaren experiment!

corkholio · 23 Apr 2003, 00:26 (Ref:577548)

I would love to see your reactions after what happens at IMS tomorrow.

Jay · 23 Apr 2003, 00:59 (Ref:577554)

I think if Michael Andretti was named 'Fred Smith' he'd be an accountant.

**GTRMagic** · 23 Apr 2003, 01:59 (Ref:577573)

So having Mario qualify Kanaan's car is your news??

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