USF1 approaching joke status

[benyeats]

[quote="dp35"]
I'm not saying Nakajima's great or even very good.  But I think amongst the pool of pay drivers he's above average, which could make him overqualified for USF1.  Kobayashi was great in Brazil, but it would be nice to see more from him than just one race.  Maybe he'll get a chance in Abu Dhabi.
[/quote]

I don't think he is very good even compared to the other pay drivers (which he is not strictly one of but was more of a sop from Williams to Toyota) he has scored very few points compared to his team mate, in fact I suspect he has the biggest points disparity 'vs his teammate of any driver

Ben

[1965Cobra427]

World Karting Association Champ '87, USAC Midget Champ '94, USAC Triple Crown '95, IRL Champ 97, NASCAR Champ 02. Too bad Stewart is so old now. (Not by Eddie's standards though!)

[wisp]

[quote="Bruce Fielding"]
How about the guy that just won IndyCar?

Oh...

Hang on...
[/quote]

Or his team mate that won it last year?

Oops ditto....

[wisp]

[quote="fiestycolumbian"]
What I don't like is no American drivers. Especially in 2010, where USGP is not expected to do anything, what's the harm in a fresh, quick American driver, and one experienced F1 pilot. Having an American in the first year is a must for USGP to gather awareness and success in the US, where F1 is barely a blip on the sporting map.

[/quote]

Why do any of USF1's drivers ever have to be American? Not all Ferraris drivers are Italian. Local support my arse... how many Americans follow or even know about Andretti's A1GP team? Now there could be some up and coming US born openwheel drivers... Marco Andretti, J. R. Hildebrand, Jonathan Summerton...

[dp35]

[quote="wisp"]
Why do any of USF1's drivers ever have to be American? [/quote]

Because from their 1st announcements, they said they would have 2 American drivers in their cars in 2010.

[quote="wisp"]
how many Americans follow or even know about Andretti's A1GP team? [/quote]

Plenty, which is more than Marco's pay ride deserved. 

[DFext37 Fielding]

SCOTT SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED (Scott Slow!)

[Caroline]

On the plus side they will be sponsored by YouTube

http://www.sniffpetrol.com/2009/08/21/youtube-s-a-f1/

[dp35]

No, they've taken on the former YouTube founder as a partner.  He sold YouTube to Google, so it doesn't seem it will be involved in USF1. 

[wisp]

[quote="dp35"]
[quote="wisp"]
Why do any of USF1's drivers ever have to be American? [/quote]

Because from their 1st announcements, they said they would have 2 American drivers in their cars in 2010.
[/quote]

silly them

[quote="dp35"]
[quote="wisp"]
how many Americans follow or even know about Andretti's A1GP team? [/quote]

Plenty, which is more than Marco's pay ride deserved. 
[/quote]

There's a heap of that as young guys make their way up the racer ladder. Even if daddy doesn't own the team his money will be backing it somewhere.

[dp35]

[quote="wisp"]
There's a heap of that as young guys make their way up the racer ladder. Even if daddy doesn't own the team his money will be backing it somewhere.[/quote]

Yeah, I guess that's the sad reality of racing everywhere these days.  There have been talented young drivers that beat Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, etc, on their way up the open wheel ladder, but never got a chance because of money.  If USF1 ever wants to have any American drivers, they'll have to provide the money it takes to groom them from a young age.  With propert funding and management, you could produce quality F1 drivers from just about any country, even America.

[dp35]

[quote="benyeats"]
[quote="dp35"]
[quote="benyeats"]
Problem with taking Toyota engines with a condition of a Japanese driver is they may end up with Nakajima as Williams did this year.  Certainly cost Williams heavily in terms of the constructors title.[/quote]

Seems like Nakajima has been driving a lot better lately.  Besides, he's probably as good or better than anyone else USF1 will end up with.  The team is probably facing the reality that it will have to use at least one pay driver in 2010, and if they're lucky they can get an experienced development driver in the other car.  Nakajima is probably better than other pay drivers they have to choose from. 
[/quote]

Better compared to who, if you mean himself earlier this year then he did not set the bar high for himself.

Kobayashi was impressive on Sunday and shoudl get himself a drive next season

Ben
[/quote]

On the Speed TV broadcast for practice at Abu Dhabi, Peter Windsor said that Nakajima would not be a pay driver in 2010, and that Toyota is not willing to offer an engine discount for having him.  In that case his F1 driving career is probably over. 

[dp35]

More negative rumors about USF1.  Other teams are doubting their ability to make it, and now they're rumored to be interested in selling their entry.

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/091106121640.shtml

[Bruce Fielding]

Success!

It has now achieved joke status



(there are six of these)

[NathanE]

Fabulous 

[DFext37 Fielding]

They just signed there first driver though yesterday!