Road Courses

[Fan]

With road courses coming into IRL next year do you see "road course specialists" coming in to do one off races, like they do with NASCAR?

Some teams don't have drivers with fantastic road course c.v's, so it could open up the market for drivers who have a good c.v but no oval experience...

Thoughts?

[Kicking-back]

I don't expect we will see that.

The way the IRL points system works, you'd be better off starting the race and retiring early on, than you would be missing the race.

It doesn't benefit your points standing to have someone else in the car.

And there are very few IndyCar drivers who've not raced on road courses before.

[rustyfan]

I agree with K-B that we are unlikely to see road course 'ringers' in the classic sense.

What I do think might be a slight possibility, however, is non-regulars making deals for one-off rides at the road courses to get a feel for IndyCar (similar to how there will be some additional drivers coming in for the Champ Car race at Surfers' this weekend).

[N I Tram]

Later in the season we could see drivers who aren't in contention to finish in the top 10 stepping aside for other drivers (probably more likely to be those with funding, rather than road racing experts), but I agree that Rustyfan's theory of additional cars is more likely. I couldn't realistically see ChampCar or F3000 drivers being available for those races, and Sportscar guys like Ron Fellows or Boris Said would have no real advantage over most IRL regulars.

[rustyfan]

I think Fellows would be able to do real well if he got the chance - at least at Watkins Glen, which seems to be one of his favorite tracks.

In 16 NASCAR starts (across the three main NASCAR championships) at the Glen, Fellows has five wins (three in Busch and two in Trucks). Not bad for a road course 'ringer'

[BootsOntheSide]

NASCARs are more similar to Ron's reguallr rides than IRL cars though rustyfan. I can't imagine the field at St. Pete's beign any different to normal, but the other races are later in teh season, so changes might occur - maybe from moneyed Europeans looking to establish themselves in the US?

[luke]

The oval ringers in the league epically Hornish want to prove they can race with success when turning right so we could see some great races and competion.

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
NASCARs are more similar to Ron's reguallr rides than IRL cars though rustyfan.

Obviously, but I was more thinking of the possibility that Ron's great knowledge of the Watkins Glen track (including the long circuit which he has raced on numerous times as well) could be quite useful.

[luke]

Of course Darren Manning's experience of St.Petersburg.....................and if Long beach, the old CART ringers.