Silly season - who has got spaces?

**ghinzani** · 26 Sep 2001, 07:04 (Ref:151412)

Well could be some big CART changes. Where is there a good listing of who goes where? I guess PacWest might have two vacancies if Gugelmin retires and Dixon goes to Ganassi? Any other vacancies?

f1manoz · 26 Sep 2001, 09:52 (Ref:151458)

There is a vacancy now at Mo Nunn after Zanardi's accident, but it will depend if Nunn decides to run two cars again next year.

Herdez Bettenhausen and Sigma Autosport both want to expand to two cars each but will depend on finance.

PacWest will probably have at least one seat, as IMO Dixon will be staying there, but Big Mo' will probably be 'retiring'. But PacWest may not even have the budget to finance a two-car operation next year.

BootsOntheSide · 26 Sep 2001, 10:28 (Ref:151475)

As I understand it, Chip Ganassi hodls the key. If he hires Scott Dixon (which is thought likely as its believed that Toyota now have his contract), then Memo and Bruno will be available, and PacWest will need another driver. Rahal's second seat would be a possible for Memo, of course Bobby is running an All-American team (no doubt a reaction agaisnt his failed spell in Europe with Jaguar). Patrick will have probably Townsend Bell alongside a newcomer, though I'd like to see Moreno change. I think Mo Nunn and Sigma will both run second cars, these may be good chances for F3000 champion Justin Wilson as I expect both will hire rookies. What about Walker though? Any plans for them to scale back up to 2 cars? I know Green, Forsythe, Penske, Fernandez and Newman-Haas will all be unchanged though. Not so sure about some of the smaller teams like Arciero-Blair or Bettenhausen though

paulzinho · 26 Sep 2001, 14:45 (Ref:151598)

I hope Mo doesnt retire and that he keeps his pacwest seat next year.

SevenGrain · 27 Sep 2001, 15:35 (Ref:152106)

One of the more recent, and certainly stronger, stories has Tony Kanaan in a Target Ganassi Car next season. Mo Nunn is said to be interested in Junquiera as well, so there may indeed be a swap. If Tony leaves Mo Nunn, Junquiera is a very likely possibility as team sponsor Hollywood wants a Brazilian in that seat. Pac West has a strong contract with Dixon, and buying Dixon out is a very remote possibility for Ganassi considering what he has committed to pay Kenny Brack. Ganassi also has financial responsibilities to Junquiera next season whether he runs him or not. Ganassi's pockets are deep, but not endless...

Hoover Orsi is probably the leading candidate to take Zanardi's seat next season. Roberto Moreno and Pedro Lamy have both been talking to Sigma Autosport. Oriol Servia may find himself in a Patrick car next year.

paulzinho · 27 Sep 2001, 15:56 (Ref:152115)

How many seats are there next year?

**ghinzani** · 27 Sep 2001, 16:03 (Ref:152118)

Quote:

Originally posted by SevenGrain

Hoover Orsi is probably the leading candidate to take Zanardi's seat next season. Roberto Moreno and Pedro Lamy have both been talking to Sigma Autosport. Oriol Servia may find himself in a Patrick car next year.

Woahhh! from whence in leftfield did all this come? Lamy?????? well well! Orsi stepping up as well? Didnt he run in Renault over here or am I confused?

Liz · 27 Sep 2001, 16:21 (Ref:152125)

Orsi is the dominator of Toyota Atlantics this year. (Another wonderful name for headline writers, isn't it - almost as good as "button"!)

I've also heard the Bruno/Kanaan swap story and think it would be good for both. Kanaan and Brack should run well together, and Bruno is more the kind of pilot that Mo is used to, than the kind Chip is used to. (Chip has been heard bullying Bruno over the radio lately and I don't think he responds well to that kind of treatment.)

Rahal is already running Vasser and has Buddy Rice under contract, so where do you see a space for Memo?

And finally, I think Moreno will be staying at Patrick.

SevenGrain · 27 Sep 2001, 17:44 (Ref:152159)

And another twist, I just got off the phone my contact at Mo Nunn racing and he tells me that it is likely that Jimmy Vasser will drive Zanardi's car for the balance of the season with Townsend Bell in Vasser's Patrick ride. This all hinges on Pat Patrick. Vasser was going to drive Zanardi's car at Rockingham, but the move was blocked by Pat Patrick, and then Nunn mnade the decision to withdraw the ebtry. We'll have to wait a few days and see how this develops.

**ghinzani** · 27 Sep 2001, 20:16 (Ref:152280)

And what about Lamy? I thought he'd dissapeared!

**gomick** · 27 Sep 2001, 23:24 (Ref:152390)

lamy should stay disappeared and invite gugelmin to join him

- fair dinkum, if gugelmin has a drive in 2002 with pacwest

i like the jimmy vasser rumour about driving zanardis car for the rest of the season - that boring old fart pat patrick should let jimmy go and give townshend bell some more track time

apologies : in a bad mood

, but sack big mo now!

SevenGrain · 28 Sep 2001, 06:03 (Ref:152471)

It won't be Jimmy in the Pioneer ride, Casey Mears will get the nod...

As far as Pedro Lamy is concerned, there were a lot of young European drivers at Rockingham, and with all of the rain... a lot of time to talk. Sigma seemed interested in Lamy and they talked at length, but given the other drivers that may be available, Lamy is a long shot for a CART seat.

**ghinzani** · 28 Sep 2001, 06:55 (Ref:152478)

Quote:

Originally posted by SevenGrain
It won't be Jimmy in the Pioneer ride, Casey Mears will get the nod...

As far as Pedro Lamy is concerned, there were a lot of young European drivers at Rockingham, and with all of the rain... a lot of time to talk. Sigma seemed interested in Lamy and they talked at length, but given the other drivers that may be available, Lamy is a long shot for a CART seat.

Can Mears drive the road courses? Theres an interesting article in this months Motor Sport about ovals with his Uncle Rick in which he says he never drove an oval until he got to USAC/CART !!! Sorta blows away all that bullshiz about road racers on ovals etc...

As to Lamy - is he still young? I remember meeting him on the ferry on the way back from a Mondello F Opel round and I'm sure he was the same age as me, which would make him 31 now - no spring chicken!

enemy-ace · 28 Sep 2001, 11:49 (Ref:152585)

Quote:

Originally posted by ghinzani
Can Mears drive the road courses

He won at Houston and finished second at Laguna Seca in his stint in Indy lights. Mo Nunn took this into consideration while choosing Mears, also Mears has a good relationship with sponsor Worldcom.
Hope he does well.

**gomick** · 28 Sep 2001, 16:34 (Ref:152747)

re: sigma team - why would pedro lamy get the ride over oriol servia

(unless servia is leaving).....

oriol i believe is doing a good job - he won indy lights in 99, did pretty good in 2000 at ppi as #2 to da matta, and in 2001 is racing in a brand new team which doesnt have the backing or resources of a top team :confused: ..... i think oriol is more worthy of being given a drive than say a christian fittipaldi who has been around for 100 odd races in good teams and only delivered on 4 or 5 occasions

.... i still say sack big mo

paulzinho · 28 Sep 2001, 19:14 (Ref:152846)

Quote:

Originally posted by gomick
i still say sack big mo

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Dont let Mo go!

Please let him stay for one last season next year.

PLEEEEEEEAAAASEE

**ghinzani** · 28 Sep 2001, 19:22 (Ref:152855)

Quote:

Originally posted by paulzinho

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Dont let Mo go!

Please let him stay for one last season next year.

PLEEEEEEEAAAASEE

Umm why? Did your Dad use to race him? What does your Dad remember of Chico Serra BTW?? did he have any other "interesting team-mates" ;-)

paulzinho · 28 Sep 2001, 19:28 (Ref:152859)

Quote:

Originally posted by ghinzani

Umm why? Did your Dad use to race him? What does your Dad remember of Chico Serra BTW?? did he have any other "interesting team-mates" ;-)

Whats that supposed to mean?

**ghinzani** · 28 Sep 2001, 19:39 (Ref:152866)

Did your Dad race Big Mo? he was in FF2000 from about 83 but your dad was in F3 by then, no?
Chico Serra - former Fittip[aldi GP driver - any stories? what other team mates did he have in the sportscars? Anyone notable?

paulzinho · 28 Sep 2001, 19:47 (Ref:152868)

I dont think he raced Mo but my mum and aunt know him from that time and still do now, my aunt lives about 5mins away from him in Miami!

As for Serra i've just asked my Mum and she said she met him a couple of times but that was about it.

Team mates included Chris Hodgetts, Neil Crang, Iketani, Max Cohen-Olivar, Giovanni Lavaggi, can't recall many others at the moment.

SevenGrain · 29 Sep 2001, 08:59 (Ref:153157)

Quote:

Originally posted by gomick
re: sigma team - why would pedro lamy get the ride over oriol servia (unless servia is leaving).....

Lamy probably won't get the ride, he has just had conversations with the team, and they appear interested. Servia has been mentioned for a seat at Patrick Racing. Who knows? I guess that's why they call it the silly season.

f1manoz · 29 Sep 2001, 10:10 (Ref:153181)

Quote:

Originally posted by gomick
i think oriol is more worthy of being given a drive than say a christian fittipaldi who has been around for 100 odd races in good teams and only delivered on 4 or 5 occasions

Great point gomick.

Haven't Newman/Haas tired of Christian's complete lack of success?? He's been there for so long now and deliever what? 2 wins!!! Wow!!

da Matta won his opening race for the team, and if it hadn't been for all that bad luck, would probably be in the thick of a championship battle at the moment.

There should have been a spare seat at that team for next year alongside da Matta. Well, there is always 2003 I guess.....

I know....put Oriol in the car!!!

SevenGrain · 2 Oct 2001, 06:14 (Ref:154664)

Quote:

Originally posted by ghinzani
Where is there a good listing of who goes where?

Here's a good resourse www.cartpages.com/sillyseason.html

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