Will AJ return?

[Peter Ford]

For whatever reason,AJ decides to return to cart,will you welcome him back with open arms or will you still be upset with him for leaving the series in the first place?.

I am still in shock, but i would love to have him back in the series after his nascar deal,i wont like it if he returns being he is stuggling in nascar and decide he wants to ran open wheelers again.

[mountainstar]

Too bad, so sad, he gone that's that.

[drewdawg727]

No, he most likely won't.

[Pro Racer]

i don't think we will see hm in ChampCar again or not for a long time anyway IMO.

[marcus]

a driver goes where he wants , I dont quite understand all this "lets get upset at him because he isnt loyal " stuff.

what if he went to F1 instead of Nascar , everyone would be saying he will do great or hope he does really well.
but he has gone to nascar because....
a) thats where he wants to go
b) he is being offered good money
c) there's no c actually , lets just get over it

I dont understand why people are getting angry at him for a decision about HIS own future

[Pro Racer]

i'm not angry at him i hope his future is great and he goes great in what ever he does.

[SALEEN S7R]

Whilst I am dissapointed that Allmendinger has left Champcar it is at the end of the day his decision. If he feels that Nascar is where he wants to be then that is his choice, personally I think he is making the wrong choice. If he ever decides to come back to open wheelers whether it be in F1, Champcar or the IRL I would be happy to see him back. He is a great driver and could potentially make it in F1 if he choose to do so. IMO.

[Kieran20]

Originally Posted by marcus

a driver goes where he wants , I dont quite understand all this "lets get upset at him because he isnt loyal " stuff.

what if he went to F1 instead of Nascar , everyone would be saying he will do great or hope he does really well.
but he has gone to nascar because....
a) thats where he wants to go
b) he is being offered good money
c) there's no c actually , lets just get over it

I dont understand why people are getting angry at him for a decision about HIS own future

i agree with you, people, and ive most recently learned, champcar fans mostly have this thing about loyalies. ive been on other forums where people have been calling the an . its realy sad to see this because like you said its the drivers choice and life.

i would gladly wecome AJ back in champ car, F1 whereever he goes, because hes a good driver. i have no idea how well he will do in NASCAR but i think if he cant get to grips with it he will come back, at least i hope

[luke]

Well he wants to do Mexico City still. I can understand Mr Forysthe wanting to put in a new driver for the last round. Why stay with the old when you can try out the new?
I would have liked to see AJ end with another race and on a good note but hey, its his choice to leave. I just hope for him that he doesn't have a poor NASCAR career, especially how he's been in the hunt for the championship this season...

[Jordi]

He's got the talent to have a long and successful NASCAR career, so I hope he goes and shows 'em.

If he comes back, welcome back.

[gttouring]

well he is starting with anew team- and MEGA millions to do it...

[Tony Clifton]

Let's get a few things clear:

-race cars drivers for the most part are employees or independent contractors.
-they want to race and win and will do virtually anything to get to that end.
-if a driver has the opportunity to race with a competitive team and series that will financially set them up for life OR to race where they may enjoy the racing better but are not as well paid or securely employed. You can make the bet that they are going to take the cash and security over the pure enjoyment. Every time.
They are not different than any other employee.

AJ is gone from Champ Car, not to return. One of the long term problems facing BOTH open wheel racing series is to be able to attract top talent and pay them well enough so they are not lead away by a better paying race series.
AJ has Red Bull as a personal sponsor. They call the money and race shots. AJ just listened.

[Flatspot]

Bingo Tony !

AJ has been looking at this for a long time now. I posted about AJ, Red Bull's wishes and Nascar back in July. He's a damn good driver with the opportunity of a lifetime staring him in the face. It's not like he is making a move to a series that has a tenuous future. He's looking down the barrel of a multi-million dollar guarantee. As Tony said, set for life (even if he only makes it a year). AJ is from humble stock as opposed to some (maybe most) in open-wheel racing who wouldn't have to worry about their financial future if the sat at home watching the Cartoon Network. I, like most everyone else here, would rather he stay in Champ Car but if I were his father I think I would counsel him to make the move he is.

Good luck AJ !!! I may even be possessed to watch you in a tin top on occassion.

[N I Tram]

Much as I dislike NASCAR and wish it wasn't so huge compared to open-wheel racing, I can't begrudge the decision AJ has made. Extra money plus security and support make it an easy comparison, and it's not as if racing in NASCAR isn't exciting and challenging.

If he does badly, he'll return. Otherwise, it'd need a MASSIVE upswing for OW's fortunes for him to return.

[JohnSSC]

Montoya had an interesting comment. He said (and I paraphrase): "In F1 you get what you get ($$). No merchandising. No prize money." He went on to talk about the level of racing, etc but my point here is that whatever AJ was signed for is only part of the total compensation he could get with prize money and merchandising added in.

Tony Clifton's very on point and on target post sums this situation up quite well.