Formula 1 should be hiring drivers from Indy Racing League

[MikeFromCanada]

The irony in all this is that recently ex-f1/gp2 drivers have gone to Indy car and they been very unimpressive.
I would say that the top drivers in Indy, given enough testing mileage would be faster/better than some of the guys we have racing in F1 today..

It's a fine line, however. For every Villeneuve and Montoya you have in the world, it is balanced out by a Da Matta and Bourdais.

[xxChrisxx]

This better not turn into a 'my-driver-is-faster-than-your-driver' pissing match.

[segedunum]

The irony in all this is that recently ex-f1/gp2 drivers have gone to Indy car and they been very unimpressive.

Really? As far as I can see most of the drivers who end up winning well and going fast there are ex-F1 and F1 feeder drivers such as Montoya, Da Matta, Zanardi, Mansell, Piquet, Bourdais etc.

I can't think of anyone who's come over to F1 and made even a small splash, especially when those drivers that have went from the US to F1 have all failed. The only one of note was Villeneuve, but he wisely didn't spend much time in the US. He stayed, got his title and got out.

[BMW_F1]

The irony in all this is that recently ex-f1/gp2 drivers have gone to Indy car and they been very unimpressive.

Really? As far as I can see most of the drivers who end up winning well and going fast there are ex-F1 and F1 feeder drivers such as Montoya, Da Matta, Zanardi, Mansell, Piquet, Bourdais etc.

I can't think of anyone who's come over to F1 and made even a small splash, especially when those drivers that have went from the US to F1 have all failed. The only one of note was Villeneuve, but he wisely didn't spend much time in the US. He stayed, got his title and got out.

you could not be more wrong.. The top drivers in Open wheel in the US for the past 7 years or so have been:

Franchitti
Dixon
Briscoe
Castroneves
Kanaan
Wheldon
Power
RHR
Bourdais

The drivers you mentioned are not from recent transitions.. In the last 5-7 years we have seen over a dozen drivers go from Europe OW to the US and with the exception of Bourdais, they've all failed..
Doornbos is a good example, he was good with the Champ Car chasis but as soon as he tried the IRL and the Dallara Chasis, he was terrible..

[timbo]

Problem with Indy is that teams don't have an eye there.
In Europe every aspiring driver is under a close view if he is any good.
Add to that various young driver programs.

The fact that there's no testing actually precludes hiring somebody across the ocean.

[segedunum]

you could not be more wrong.. The top drivers in Open wheel in the US for the past 7 years or so have been:

Franchitti
Dixon
Briscoe
Castroneves
Kanaan
Wheldon
Power
RHR
Bourdais

I don't get you. We're told in the title of this thread that F1 should be hiring more drivers from IRL. I can't think of any one of those who would get a drive in F1, and those that have tested have been unimpressive. The fact that Bourdais went over there and dominated is a sign of just how weak the driver pool is.

[Giblet]

I think the main thing is that IRL drivers are dealing with understeer on a near constant basis, and going into an F1 car and being fast where an oversteer master can make things happen numbs their ability to showcase talent considerably.

The lack of testing in F1 is another nail. Bourdais, considering the task and teammate he had, could have done far worse. He could have also done much better.

[Sawtooth-spike]

I think the main thing is that IRL drivers are dealing with understeer on a near constant basis, and going into an F1 car and being fast where an oversteer master can make things happen numbs their ability to showcase talent considerably.

The lack of testing in F1 is another nail. Bourdais, considering the task and teammate he had, could have done far worse. He could have also done much better.

I agree, He could of been a lot worse! On his day he was a good driver, but he was never going to get anywhere near the success he had in IRL.

I think one of the other things is if you look at EX f1 drivers in Indy at the moment, drivers like Justin Wilson and Sato are not doing a bad job over there. No worse than Bordais did in F1?

My question is this, I assume Franchitti learn his craft in Europe as did Bourdais. Does this imply a greater strength in Driver who learned there craft in Europe? (If my first assumption is wrong please let me know)

My last question is this, Are we comparing Apples and Oranges? Although Indy is open wheel just like F1 is it a different skill set just as Rally is to Touring car?

[BMW_F1]

you could not be more wrong.. The top drivers in Open wheel in the US for the past 7 years or so have been:

Franchitti
Dixon
Briscoe
Castroneves
Kanaan
Wheldon
Power
RHR
Bourdais

I don't get you. We're told in the title of this thread that F1 should be hiring more drivers from IRL. I can't think of any one of those who would get a drive in F1, and those that have tested have been unimpressive. The fact that Bourdais went over there and dominated is a sign of just how weak the driver pool is.

because of the stupid CHAMP/ IRL split Bourdais did not face any tough opposition.. He did not go against a Castroneves, Franchitti or Dixon for example..

[BMW_F1]

I think the main thing is that IRL drivers are dealing with understeer on a near constant basis, and going into an F1 car and being fast where an oversteer master can make things happen numbs their ability to showcase talent considerably.

The lack of testing in F1 is another nail. Bourdais, considering the task and teammate he had, could have done far worse. He could have also done much better.

I agree, He could of been a lot worse! On his day he was a good driver, but he was never going to get anywhere near the success he had in IRL.

I think one of the other things is if you look at EX f1 drivers in Indy at the moment, drivers like Justin Wilson and Sato are not doing a bad job over there. No worse than Bordais did in F1?

My question is this, I assume Franchitti learn his craft in Europe as did Bourdais. Does this imply a greater strength in Driver who learned there craft in Europe? (If my first assumption is wrong please let me know)

My last question is this, Are we comparing Apples and Oranges? Although Indy is open wheel just like F1 is it a different skill set just as Rally is to Touring car?

Bourdais did not race in the IRL.. he raced Champ cars.. Totally different..
Sato is doing very bad.. check out Dornboos record when he tried the IRL. Glock did not impress either .. he was soundly beaten by the regulars there (Allmendinger, Bourdais, Tagliani, Tracy..etc)....
Justin is one of the most experienced drivers in US OW.. he's been in America for 7 years and in all those years he's never won more than 2 races per season.. He is very good in circuits but cannot cut the mustard in ovals and to be considered one of the top drivers here in the US you must be good in both (ovals + circuits)

The biggest difference between Indy and F1 is that in Indy half of the races are on ovals..

[Sawtooth-spike]

Ahhh, Sorry, Forgot that Champ Car were split.

But my point about Driver who have learnt there craft in europe and moved over still stands.

[BMW_F1]

I think so too (at least for circuit racing).. but it goes both ways.. Montoya was also famous in F1 for his impressive ability to control a sliding car on cold tires something that he picked up while racing in CART..

IMO a good driver is a good driver no matter where he races. The best will always stand out in any category and Montoya is a very good example - same as Mansell.

[Just_a_fan]

I think so too (at least for circuit racing).. but it goes both ways.. Montoya was also famous in F1 for his impressive ability to control a sliding car on cold tires something that he picked up while racing in CART..

IMO a good driver is a good driver no matter where he races. The best will always stand out in any category and Montoya is a very good example - same as Mansell.

Montoya is/was a "promises much but never quite delivers" driver.

At least Mansell actually won F1 and CART...

[gridwalker]

I liked Montoya, but he always let me down : I was staggered by the number of races where I'd be cheering for him initially, only to hang my head muttering "Oh, Monty, Monty, Monty ..."

He broke into the sport with such promise, immediately showing that he wasn't afraid of sticking one up the inside of Schumacher ... I'd been following him since before he started to shine in Indy, so the prospect of having him in F1 really excited me.

I'm a Brit, but I didn't even care that he took Button's seat at Williams.

That man broke my heart *sniff*

[Just_a_fan]

Montoya was a breath of fresh air when he arrived in F1. I liked him a lot. But he never delivered on that early promise. He was a lot like JV in that regard although at least JV got himself a seat in a competitive car at just the right time. No doubt that had Montoya been in a decent car at the right time he would have challeneged for the title. But...