[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by 1250ships

Speaking of Gordon the Speed Channel show from a few years ago where Gordon and Montoya switched cars at Indy was a hoot. Perhaps they will re-run it again.

Jeff Gordon was tapped for an F-1 career (or so the rumor goes), but I honestly believe, given his impressive and remarkable statistical achievements in NASCAR:

- 4 Winston Cup Championships (1st championship at the tender age of 24)
- The most victories in the Brickyard (hallowed ground of the Indy 500 legends)
- Record setting victories in 97 season (almost bested 7 time champ Richard "The King" Petty's record)
- ACE driver of road courses in Sears Point and Watkins Glenn
- Most wins in the Daytona 500

....I could go on and on, it doesn't surprise me that he shares alot in common with Juan Montoya in terms of skill, tenacity and greatness as a driver. I could only imagine a great career or stint in Formula One would bring him.


I agree 100% with you, Skunky, when it comes to Tony Stewart!

[Tyler109]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Jeff Gordon was tapped for an F-1 career (or so the rumor goes), but I honestly believe, given his impressive and remarkable statistical achievements in NASCAR:

- 4 Winston Cup Championships (1st championship at the tender age of 24)
- The most victories in the Brickyard (hallowed ground of the Indy 500 legends)
- Record setting victories in 97 season (almost bested 7 time champ Richard "The King" Petty's record)
- ACE driver of road courses in Sears Point and Watkins Glenn
- Most wins in the Daytona 500

....I could go on and on, it doesn't surprise me that he shares alot in common with Juan Montoya in terms of skill, tenacity and greatness as a driver. I could only imagine a great career or stint in Formula One would bring him.


I agree 100% with you, Skunky, when it comes to Tony Stewart!

I think Jeff probably had some potential to do well in Formula 1 but I think it's also too late in his career for him to try Formula 1 since most of those guys get thier first starts when they're 19-21. I really think they need to find a way to get some of these guys to drive in the Indianapolis 500. The problem where the 500 was lost it's shine is driver names. People just don't recognize or care about most of the guys on the Indycar circuit.

[1250ships]

I don't see Gordon going to F1. Too old and too much he'd have to learn. By the time he would be up to speed he would be ready to retire and that doesn't interest the F1 bosses.

Indy can coast a while on the past glory of being Indy but long term they really need to re-unify CART and IRL. I used to love CART because they had great drivers and ran a good mix of road courses and ovals. Now it is a 3rd rate series that doesn't get on TV half the time. IRL just does ovals which gets old to me after a while. One of the reasons I'm not watching NASCAR. Oval racing is interesting but doesn't compare to something like Zanardi's pass on Herta at Laguna Seca.

[Berkut76]

Montoya is an arrogant prick much worse than Stewart because Tony at least is not duplicitous.

Since jumping ship from Formula 1 (not because he wanted to enjoy racing with more on track passing, but rather because no top flight team was willing to offer him a contract because of his personality), Montoya did nothing but bad mouth that series even stooping as low as saying Michael Schumacher is nobody because he doesn't enjoy celebrity status in the US. Unfortunately, all of the above was said in interviews to foreign newspapers and didn't get much coverage in the US.

When it comes to international presence in NASCAR, I'm cheering for an Aussie driver, Mark Ambrose, who was a two time champion in V8Supercars (the best road racing series in the world, actually in terms of racing) and is currently working his way up the NASCAR ladder (he is currently in Busch) racing for permanently cash strapped Wood Brothers Team and not the financial powerhouse, which is Chip Gannassi Racing.


All in all, I wish Montoya all the worst, hoping that he'll lose his ride by the end of the year.

Anyway, until NASCAR will either switch to cars that bear resemblance to something on the street or up the technology curve (seriously, 1950s engine technology should be put to pasture already), I'm not going to follow the series.

Regards,

Sergey

[Tyler109]

Originally Posted by 1250ships

I don't see Gordon going to F1. Too old and too much he'd have to learn. By the time he would be up to speed he would be ready to retire and that doesn't interest the F1 bosses.

Indy can coast a while on the past glory of being Indy but long term they really need to re-unify CART and IRL. I used to love CART because they had great drivers and ran a good mix of road courses and ovals. Now it is a 3rd rate series that doesn't get on TV half the time. IRL just does ovals which gets old to me after a while. One of the reasons I'm not watching NASCAR. Oval racing is interesting but doesn't compare to something like Zanardi's pass on Herta at Laguna Seca.

I agree that was one hell of a pass. Fortuneatly for Indycar this year they've added some of the road courses I've missed seeing racing on (like Mid-Ohio and Belle Isle) they'll have a total of 5 road races with 12 ovals this year so hopefully that will regain some interest.

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by 1250ships

Oval racing is interesting but doesn't compare to something like Zanardi's pass on Herta at Laguna Seca.

Yeah, that's one helluva pass! Too bad Alex lost both his legs (nope not on that pass) with that 'freak accident'. I like the guy's style as well.

I understand, and agree, that Jeff Gordon is way passed his prime for a career in Formula One - that much is true, but it's just that sometimes I can't help but imagine how things would've turned out for him had he taken that path when he was in his prime peak performance, and all things considered.

Shame about Montoya's attitude towards Schumacher and F.1, what can I say...

[SKUNKY]

Actually, they need to remove the 'S' from NASCAR....There's certainly nothing "stock" about them anymore...

[Warhawk]

WHAT A FINISH!!! Really wanted Martin to win though

[SKUNKY]

Me too.....I like Harvick, but I really wanted to see Mark pull it off.
I was elated to see Fat Butt have a bad day though....

I just hope the back of the field is full of those stupid Toyotas

I know exactly what you mean,Tyler...NASCAR is actually fielding cars this season that represent an automobile nameplate long synonymous with absolutely abysmal quality which are actually built in the U.S.A of all places (Toyota Camry; Georgetown, Kentucky) to run up against those Chevy Monte Carlos and Dodge Chargers (both manufactured in Ontario, Canada) and Ford Fusions (crafted with pride in Hermosillo, Mexico).....What has this sport come to?...It's treason, I tell ya....

[STARMAN 352ND]

It was a great race to the end..
I'm happy RCR won and i like Harvick since he was tapped for Dale's car in 2001.Thing is today 6 years ago we lost Dale at Daytona on this very day Feb 18th.This win is special .
I do feel bad for Martin he was so close .....I don't think i have seen a Daytona 500 that close at the checkered flag.
JP