Getting Allmendinger in the IRL

[rush1]

I believe it would be a good move if the Indy racing league could obtain the services of A.J. Allmendinger. He is a fast, young and American. Furthermore all the IRL races but one is held in the US, so it makes sense to market people of that nationality.

Which makes the behavior of the champ car series all the more strange. You hold the majority of your races in the United States and don't employ the services of an American driver? If you had a similar series with the majority of their races held in say Germany, and no German drivers were involved, you would probably get the same outcome. Total lack of interest in that country hosting most of the events.

If Champ car continues to make similar moves there will be no need for Tony George's IRL to seek unification. Champ car will just wilt away due to the breathtaking stupidity of its decision makers.

[rustyfan]

I hope Allmendinger finds another Champ Car ride, but if he doesn't I think it's more likely he'll end up in NASCAR rather than IndyCar given the rumours that floated around two months ago.

Assuming he does find another ride and doesn't end up like Ryan Hunter-Reay, that is.

[marcus]

well lets not turn this into a "Champcar screwed up thread" because there is obviously more to the decision than we know about.

as for getting AJ into the Indycar series , I dont even know if he is interested , at the end of the day he is a racer and if a deal was offered then Im sure he would look at it and make the best decision for himself.

It would be good to see him have a go but i think rustyfan is right and its nascar time for him

[rush1]

Tough time for a race driver to lose his job, right in the middle of the season. Looking at the premier teams in NA open wheel racing which might have a seat for AJ next year does offer a little hope.

Marlboro Team Penske - no, Target Chip Ganassi - no, Andretti Green racing -maybe replacing Bryan Herta, Newman Hass - Doubtful, Rahal Letterman - maybe replacing Jeff Simmons in the ethanol car.

So there is a possible opportunity with Rahal Letterman or Andretti Green next year in the IRL.

Fingers crossed.

[Bluewolf]

I totally agree this could be a major blow to CC -- but -- the reality is that each individual team has a right to try and get the best drivers they can -- If there are no Americans right now in champ car then you have to assume that there are no Americans that deserve to be in champ car -- I just wonder if this isn't going to backfire on Rusport though - sure Di Matta won in CC but he was with the top team when he did it -- then he flunked out of F1. A J is talented and aggresive, and if he does get a chance with a good team he may prove to be stronger than Di Matta in my opinion.

[OpenWheel4ever]

Originally Posted by rush1

If Champ car continues to make similar moves there will be no need for Tony George's IRL to seek unification. Champ car will just wilt away due to the breathtaking stupidity of its decision makers.

I'm a big fan of Champ Car, and I hope they will keep AJ! They need him...
Sometimes, KK and others did so many bad moves, like to let go Briscoe, Montagny and so many...Hope the things will be good to keep AJA.

And in the IndyCar, there are so many great American talents, like Hornish, Patrick, Sharp...

[BootsOntheSide]

The exact reasons for AJ being axed aren't clear, but there was some internal trouble in the team, and if they felt they couldn't work together, then staying together for the sake of the series was never a good idea.

Even if oyu think of ChampCar as a North American series, they still don't have enough local drivers. Nobody has a problem with talented drivers from elsewhere being involved, but to attract new fans you do need some local figures people can identify with.

[indycool]

There are some seats that might be available in the IRL, but I doubt Allmendinger really wants to go there. He has never had much good to say about oval racing.

[Dennis H.]

Originally Posted by indycool

There are some seats that might be available in the IRL, but I doubt Allmendinger really wants to go there. He has never had much good to say about oval racing.

that is true but the rumor running around Indy is that he has already been contacted by a few Indycar teams and is apparently listening.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by rush1

Which makes the behavior of the champ car series all the more strange.

As has been mentioned, it was a Carl Russo move not a ChampCar one. I think will see AJ wind up in the field again.

Interested to know outside of Tony George how many teams have the potential to add an extra car?

[indycool]

Ganassi.....rumors about a second car with Cheever.....Hemelgarn with Chesson gone.....some with one-offs at Indy which might be able to package something up.

[ems]

My bet is that AJ will be picked up in ChampCar and replace another less talented driver. Potentially Mario D. There are other candidates as well.
IRL is not likely at all; NASCAR is not feasible at this point either, even less so.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by ems

NASCAR is not feasible at this point either, even less so.

If - and that's a big if - Allmendinger indeed is a potential candidate for one of the Team Red Bull rides it could be quite possible he would make the move early. TRB is starting to get their program together, and they will enter Bill Elliott in several races later this season to gather experience from race weekends. Bringing in Allmendinger early would allow them to enter him in a few races too, as well as let him start testing etc to prepare for next season.

That is, if there is any truth to the earlier rumours of course.

[Tenoch]

To be honest as A champ car fan I would rather see AJ in the IRL, I feel he has more of a future there. As of lately I have been really impressed by IRL races specially the race at the glen action all the way. I hope the IRL add more road courses and I do mean road courses and not street races to its schedule.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by indycool

rumors about a second car with Cheever.....Hemelgarn with Chesson gone.....some with one-offs at Indy which might be able to package something up.

If those would be the options, he would be better off with DCR.

I am thinking PKV in a 3rd car is most likely at the moment.

[Peter Ford]

i heard that AJ will be replacing Mario Dominguez at Forsythe racing and that Mario will be going to Dale Coyne racing.

[Snrub]

I wonder if Ganassi wouldn't be interested in AJ given all of the rumour floating around. I don't think Rahal is inconceivable either.

AJ needs some direction, I suspect the best thing for him would be a mentor like Jimmy Vasser to help him out, regardless of where he ends up.

It's interesting that Carl Russo said that AJ was the most naturally talented driver he'd ever seen. That says a lot when he currently has Justin Wilson under contract.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Peter Ford

i heard that AJ will be replacing Mario Dominguez at Forsythe racing and that Mario will be going to Dale Coyne racing.

That would be the best scenario. Where did you hear that info, Peter?

The concern would be that a competitive Mexican is still needed, but at the moment an American is a priority.

A Tracy - Allmendinger pairing is something to salivate though.

[rustyfan]

As posted in the Champ Car thread, Dominguez has now left Forsythe. Apparently he wasn't fired, however, but rather requested to be released.

I'd be highly surprised if Allmendinger doesn't replace Dominguez at Forsythe.

[luke]

SO AJ is going to Forsythe and staying in Champ Car. He would very unlikely move to the IRL anyway, he gets scared on the one mile ovals...

[paul-collins]

Given the outcome, I'd say this thread has run its course.