From F1 to NASCAR?

[Baldy]

Believe it or not. :eyebrow:

Meet the driver of the #42 for 2007 (http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/07/09/jmontoya_ganassi/index.html)

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Yeah Montoya is joining his old car owner from Indy car. Nascar is not what it was 10-15 years ago and neither is F1, both have been going in the wrong direction the last few years. I love racing, especially NASCAR, go to 4-5 races a year, and i'm interested to see what kinda reception Montoya gets being he's from Columbia. As a whole there is more money in NASCAR than there is in F1 anymore, Micheal Schumacher being the exception. Also the F1 cars have become so computerized that the drivers are more of a puppet behind the wheel than anything which has really ruined the series from a competition standpoint. Granted NASCAR has become WWE which has caused some of the loyal fanbase that's been there 20+ years to wonder the NASCAR higherups have been thinking.

[UNHWildCats]

rumors also have Jaques Villenueve going from f1 to NASCAR next season as the second driver for the new Red Bull Toyota team.

[TexasTerror]

All these top tier drivers moving to NASCAR is no surprise...

Question is, would Danica Patrick ever consider NASCAR? Hmmmm...

[Tribefan]

Yeah Montoya is joining his old car owner from Indy car. Nascar is not what it was 10-15 years ago and neither is F1, both have been going in the wrong direction the last few years. I love racing, especially NASCAR, go to 4-5 races a year, and i'm interested to see what kinda reception Montoya gets being he's from Columbia. As a whole there is more money in NASCAR than there is in F1 anymore, Micheal Schumacher being the exception. Also the F1 cars have become so computerized that the drivers are more of a puppet behind the wheel than anything which has really ruined the series from a competition standpoint. Granted NASCAR has become WWE which has caused some of the loyal fanbase that's been there 20+ years to wonder the NASCAR higherups have been thinking.

There is definitely not more money in NASCAR than there is in F1. F1 is global. NASCAR is a regional/regional series. Teams like Ferrari, McLaren, Toyota, Honda, Renault etc. spend hundreds of millions a piece just to race in one season. Ralf Schumacher who drives for Toyota is not even considered a winning driver gets 20 Million a year from Toyota. That doesn't even include all the endorsement deals that he gets in Germany.

Scott Speed is a rookie in F1 and Racer Magazine estimated that he is pulling in 8 figures.....

Personally, I can't wait for Montoya to race circles around the goobs in NASCAR. It will take a little time to get accustomed to the setups, but if he dedicates himself then he'll.

[Tribefan]

All these top tier drivers moving to NASCAR is no surprise...

Question is, would Danica Patrick ever consider NASCAR? Hmmmm...


Since when did Danicle become top tier? Surely you jest.

[Tribefan]

rumors also have Jaques Villenueve going from f1 to NASCAR next season as the second driver for the new Red Bull Toyota team.

I highly doubt that JV will make that move. JV is inherently lazy, 36 races would be too much work for him. In the Red Bulletin at the USGP this season he said he would consider a move to NASCAR, but that statement was really all about posturing since he negotiating a new contract with BMW-Sauber. For someone JV's age (yes he is considered old for F1) he still has pretty good pace.

[Tribefan]

Oh and for the record. Nobody that races in the Tony's league of Death aka the Indy Racing League should be considered "top tier". Same goes for the Champ Car. The top tier is the the very best in F1 and and some select drivers in NASCAR. If you disagree with that, then take it up with management.

Hopefully Marco Andretti will get out of the IRL soon. He needs a testing seat in F1 and GP2 ride to get accustomed to racing in Europe. Hopefully this happens before he ends up in a wheelchair or a casket.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

There is definitely not more money in NASCAR than there is in F1. F1 is global. NASCAR is a regional/regional series. Teams like Ferrari, McLaren, Toyota, Honda, Renault etc. spend hundreds of millions a piece just to race in one season. Ralf Schumacher who drives for Toyota is not even considered a winning driver gets 20 Million a year from Toyota. That doesn't even include all the endorsement deals that he gets in Germany.

Scott Speed is a rookie in F1 and Racer Magazine estimated that he is pulling in 8 figures.....

Personally, I can't wait for Montoya to race circles around the goobs in NASCAR. It will take a little time to get accustomed to the setups, but if he dedicates himself then he'll.

I'm not talking about the R/D aspect, F1 has Nascar beat there. In terms of the amount of the drivers are making it's about equal. I can almost gaurentee you that there is a large number of drivers who make well into 8 figures. Like i said earlier Michael Schumacher is more of an exception rather than the rule, i guess his bum brother is as well when it comes to endorsements. You also have to consider the value of the dollar. I'm pretty sure Jr., Gordon, Stewert, J. Johnson, and the other big names pull in $20M plus in endorsements alone, plus a boatload more in appearance fees as well. Then you calculate race winnings, base salary from the owner, souvenier sales, plus the other dealings these guys have on the side. I believe DE SR. was one of the first people EVER to copyright his signiture, can only imagine how much money his estate is still making on that fact alone. NASCAR has caught up to F1 leaps and bounds the last 5-6 years in terms of finances.

[Baldy]

There is definitely not more money in NASCAR than there is in F1. F1 is global. NASCAR is a regional/regional series. Teams like Ferrari, McLaren, Toyota, Honda, Renault etc. spend hundreds of millions a piece just to race in one season. Ralf Schumacher who drives for Toyota is not even considered a winning driver gets 20 Million a year from Toyota. That doesn't even include all the endorsement deals that he gets in Germany.

Scott Speed is a rookie in F1 and Racer Magazine estimated that he is pulling in 8 figures.....

Personally, I can't wait for Montoya to race circles around the goobs in NASCAR. It will take a little time to get accustomed to the setups, but if he dedicates himself then he'll.
F1 has got to be the most boring racing series in the world. Very little competition and very little actual racing. It's all about the glitz and glamor. At most in any given year, there are maybe 3 drivers who actually have a chance of winning the championship, and about that many who actually have a chance of winning a race.

I hope Montoya comes in and does well, but if you think he is going to race circles around the 'goobs'......well, it just ain't gonna happen. NASCAR does some rather crazy things, but they have got one thing right, the competition is very close.

Montoya is one hell of a driver, but he is facing an extremely steep learing curve. He'll be racing cars that are twice the weight with half of the tire against twice as many cars with 1000 times more competition racing for a mid-level team

[Baldy]

I'm not talking about the R/D aspect, F1 has Nascar beat there. In terms of the amount of the drivers are making it's about equal. I can almost gaurentee you that there is a large number of drivers who make well into 8 figures. Like i said earlier Michael Schumacher is more of an exception rather than the rule, i guess his bum brother is as well when it comes to endorsements. You also have to consider the value of the dollar. I'm pretty sure Jr., Gordon, Stewert, J. Johnson, and the other big names pull in $20M plus in endorsements alone, plus a boatload more in appearance fees as well. Then you calculate race winnings, base salary from the owner, souvenier sales, plus the other dealings these guys have on the side. I believe DE SR. was one of the first people EVER to copyright his signiture, can only imagine how much money his estate is still making on that fact alone. NASCAR has caught up to F1 leaps and bounds the last 5-6 years in terms of finances.
On top of that, rumor has it that Michael Waltrip Racing/Toyota will be paying Dale Jarrett a $10+ million base salary next season. :eek:

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

On top of that, rumor has it that Michael Waltrip Racing/Toyota will be paying Dale Jarrett a $10+ million base salary next season. :eek:

Exactly!! I frequent the speedtv message boards and even the people on the F1 board admit that the money to be had for a driver in F1 compared to one in NASCAR is a wash.

[TexasTerror]

Since when did Danicle become top tier? Surely you jest.

Danica is not a "top tier" driver, but she definitely has the media circus around her every move she makes. It would definitely be a nice little boost for NASCAR if she were to come over and would not be beneficial to IRL at all, which is hurting in so many ways...

[Cocky]

I like to watch both F-1 and NASCAR.

It like comparing the apples and oranges, very different racing.

The biggest similarities, both are ran by dictators and make boat loads of money.

[Tribefan]

F1 is an acquired taste. It's a sport I hate to love. Sort of like smoking. Thr drivers are divas, the team bosses are selfish bastards and Bernie Ecclestone is a cock. But..... I go to 1-2 GPs a year and in person it's the most amazing thing I have seen. I've been to NASCAR, Tony's League of Death (IRL), Champ Car and F1 is bar none the most incredible spectacle.

I'm a MOTORsport fan. I am a fan of the car as much as I am a fan of the drivers. It's fascinating to see how teams will build up competitive advantages...

Whereas in NASCAR, if a team or a make of car creates an advantage then NASCAR immediately levels the playing field. That is not motorsport. NASCAR might as hand out cars everyweek, it's IROC without the I.

The close racing you see in NASCAR is largely artificial... you're watching a show. It's not real racing, and sometimes because of "The Call" it's not sport. Just ask Dale Jr. and Ernie Irvin.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

F1 is an acquired taste. It's a sport I hate to love. Sort of like smoking. Thr drivers are divas, the team bosses are selfish bastards and Bernie Ecclestone is a cock. But..... I go to 1-2 GPs a year and in person it's the most amazing thing I have seen. I've been to NASCAR, Tony's League of Death (IRL), Champ Car and F1 is bar none the most incredible spectacle.

I'm a MOTORsport fan. I am a fan of the car as much as I am a fan of the drivers. It's fascinating to see how teams will build up competitive advantages...

Whereas in NASCAR, if a team or a make of car creates an advantage then NASCAR immediately levels the playing field. That is not motorsport. NASCAR might as hand out cars everyweek, it's IROC without the I.

The close racing you see in NASCAR is largely artificial... you're watching a show. It's not real racing, and sometimes because of "The Call" it's not sport. Just ask Dale Jr. and Ernie Irvin.

What call has to do with Ernie Irvan?? I know who Ernie is and what happened to him.

[Tribefan]

Do a web search on "The Call".

There is a valid suspicion out there that NASCAR influences outcomes once in a blue moon in order to generate a super neato human interest story that goobs love, a la Dale Earnhardt finally winning a Daytona 500 (funny how nobody attempted to pass him in those closing laps), Richard Petty winning at Daytona (His last win and his first in a long while) with Ronald Reagan in attendance, Dale Jr. winning at Daytona (The entire pack parted like the red sea to let him take the lead) after Dale Senior died, and Ernie Irvin winning at Michigan after a comeback from life threatening injury... Awww shucks ain't that sumptin'.....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Do a web search on "The Call".

There is a valid suspicion out there that NASCAR influences outcomes once in a blue moon in order to generate a super neato human interest story that goobs love, a la Dale Earnhardt finally winning a Daytona 500 (funny how nobody attempted to pass him in those closing laps), Richard Petty winning at Daytona (His last win and his first in a long while) with Ronald Reagan in attendance, Dale Jr. winning at Daytona (The entire pack parted like the red sea to let him take the lead) after Dale Senior died, and Ernie Irvin winning at Michigan after a comeback from life threatening injury... Awww shucks ain't that sumptin'.....

I don't buy the fix was in at Michigan. I remember that race very well and he and Bill Elliott were strong all race. Also Robert Yates had great success at Michigan with Davey Allison, Ernie, and Dale Jarrett.

[Tribefan]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/5670660

"The Call"

Nice "sport" there.

[Tribefan]

I don't buy the fix was in at Michigan. I remember that race very well and he and Bill Elliott were strong all race. Also Robert Yates had great success at Michigan with Davey Allison, Ernie, and Dale Jarrett.

Don't buy it. Irvan was wearing and eye patch and his career was basically over after that race. Plus it was the dramatic return to the track that nearly took his life. Hollywood can't even write scripts this good.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Don't buy it. Irvan was wearing and eye patch and his career was basically over after that race. Plus it was the dramatic return to the track that nearly took his life. Hollywood can't even write scripts this good.

Ernie was wearing an eye patch but was still pretty good. He made 3 starts at the tail end of '95 and had 2 top 10's. In 1996 he finished 10th in points with 2 wins 12 top 5's and 16 top 10's DESPITE missing 3 races. In 1997 the year he won the race you question he finished 14th in points, fell apart the last 2 months of the season, he had 5 top 5's and 13 top 10's. In 1998 he did pretty good for a start up team, MB2 motorsports. He gave them 3 poles and 11 top 10's. His career ended 2/3's of the way through '99.

These numbers really refute your claim as well
Career stats at Michigan after joining McClure racing in 1990
90- 2, 35
91- 5, 7
92- 30, 4
93- 3, 32
94- 18
Post accident
96- 4th missed the first race in a string of 3 misssed races
97- 1, 4
98- 14, 6
99- 9

Ernie was good at Michigan before his wreck and good at Michigan after his wreck. There is nothing fishy with his win.