Is There Any Hope For Scheckter?

[GP Racer]

So how do you guys feel about Tomas Scheckter?

I have to say that I think Tomas is one of the quickest and most exciting drivers in the IRL, with more daring do than most, but in his over three years here, he has produced absolutely nothing but heartache and pain. He has a dismal record at finishing races, and has had more accidents and mishaps than any other driver out there. He has once again started the season with 3 accidents in 3 races. His "spin" at St. Pete was almost to much to take. His to numerous to mention breakdowns are another matter.

So, what is it? Is he just the unluckiest driver to ever take to a race track in the history of all racing, or does he just plain stink? And, should Tomas just move on or can he really win here?

[Woolley]

Quick but erratic, which pretty much sums up his time over here, too. I've lost a little enthusiasm now that all the accidents seem to be either someone else's fault or worse, some useless rookie who shouldn't be allowed near a track. Short memory has our Tomas, unfortunately. It's a pity because as a fan of his father, I've always wanted him to be good.

So my answer to your question, not really either. He certainly doesn't stink, but it's not all bad luck either.

[marcus]

I just dont know.

I have his record at hand and its not good reading.

to the end of last year he had started 44 races and recorded 22 DNF's

that is terrible to only finish 22 races i honestly didnt think he had retired so much (Ok some of them had to be mechanical probs)

and he hasnt finished any this year either has he ?

so thats 47 starts with 25 DNF's

me thinks he needs to find someone to settle him down and I thought Panther would have been a good place for that.

I hope he turns it around as he is very quick but i feel if he continues on the way he is now he wont be around for much longer to improve that record.

[mountainstar]

Is There Any Hope For Scheckter?

Uh, No.

It's always funny to hear others go "Wow this guy is really fast", but to me it doesn't mean anything when you are always cannonballing cars into the wall and not finishing races. I followed Scheckter's career in the lower formula and no doubt he has some speed at times and won races, but he seemed to be missing something. Strangely enough his dad was known as being totally insane on the race track at the beginning of his career, but by the end of his brief career was a meek molly on the track. Will Junior be able to do the same? A South African A1 GP candidate perhaps?

[BootsOntheSide]

I've never expected him to become a leading IRL driver, and the way Enge is matchig his performacnes and generally keeping the car on the road suggests that it'll be a tough season for Scheckter. It's a shame Bell didn't keep the ride with the team, because he adjusted really well ocne he came in and is much mroe marketable. There's no way I'd put any faith in Scheckter now, he's had a lot of chances and seems to waste them all, and msot of it ultimately isn't luck. Any driver who's going to cease to be a crasher and becme fast and reliable has usually done so in less than 3 seasons.

[Snrub]

He reminds me of PT. The guy had the speed, but just couldn't seem to control himself and I think a lot of people were so frustrated with him that they wrote him off. When Scheckter first came to the IRL, he looked so promising. Since he hasn't really been at the front, which may or may not be his fault. Clearly a lot of people here are frustrated with him. It took PT nearly 10 years to start to drive more sensibly, but will Scheckter get all those chances? Amid the craziness PT still won races and his teams had enough money that they were willing to trade wrecked cars for wins. At Kool-Green, the sponsor specifically wanted him because he was a lose cannon and embodied the image they wanted to promote. I don't see any of those things happening for Scheckter, so he'd better become more sensible or he won't be driving. There are a LOT of good drivers out there who want a race seat and they'd value it enough not to wreck the car.

I think it's interesting to contrast to Manning in Champ Car '03. Here was a young guy who was given a shot, but with a small team. They couldn't afford anything so he didn't cause a single peice of damage on the car all year. He still performed remarkably well. Then he gets a call up to one of the biggest teams out there. He obviously drives a little differently now and the results aren't very different, but the point is that he got the job done extremely well and reliably.

[miamiyogi]

First all hi folks...I am brand new to this forum and this is my very first post. And I am a come again fan to open wheel racing and I am leaning towards the IRL but admittedly haven't been following champ. So please dont flame me to badly.

Agreed to the previous posts on Tomas' record. However, he was running very well back in Homestead he was hanging back purposely and became aggressive towards the end when "Kamikazee Kosuke" wiped him. I wasn't too impressed with his showing at St. Pete. But I think I'll remain a fan and stick with him this season.

Things aren't looking too good at Panther Racing as they are 0 finishes in 6 entries. We'll revisit the bad luck after Texas until then GO CHEVY GO!

[GP Racer]

Originally Posted by miamiyogi

Agreed to the previous posts on Tomas' record. However, he was running very well back in Homestead he was hanging back purposely and became aggressive towards the end when "Kamikazee Kosuke" wiped him. I wasn't too impressed with his showing at St. Pete. But I think I'll remain a fan and stick with him this season.

Welcome to the forum miami! Don't worry, I think you'll find this forum as flame free as they come.

Tomas has had a number of accidents and breakdowns that you could say weren't his fault, but how many do you have to have before people say you bring on your own bad luck? In other words, does he drive defensively enough to see whats happening down the track, or is he always pedal to the metal no matter what the situation? Is he just to hard on equipment, which is causing his breakdowns?

I think the really good drivers out there can see whats happening, adjust themselves, and stay out of trouble most of the time. If Tomas is to have any chance of staying here, he need's to back off alittle, and finish races, period.

[JohnSSC]

True speed is being able to know when you are going as fast as the car is capable of. That capability changes with track conditions: traffic, tire wear, etc. Tomas seems to be unable to adjust - he just goes as fast as the car would be able to go in optimum conditions; even if the optimum conditions no longer exist.

The PT analogy is pretty good - I would argue that PT really has not settled down much either, but that is for another thread in some other forum.

Tomas Scheckter is the Kevin Cogan of this era: blazing speed with no concept as to how to utilize it.

[Mosport67]

Originally Posted by JohnSSC

Tomas Scheckter is the Kevin Cogan of this era: blazing speed with no concept as to how to utilize it.

Maybe but he doesn't have the hair.

[JohnSSC]

Touche!

[JohnSSC]

Waaaay off topic, but since blondes were mentioned, Phil Parsons (NASCAR boy) was very blonde, very fast and VERY erratic!

Cogan was ridiculously fast though. When he screwed the pooch it was look out - big time!

Rustyfan's Avatar kind of sums up Cogan's racing "luck."

[DefntlyDiffrnt]

Scheckter - I just don't know about him. Of course I stopped calling him Wreckter so that's an improvement. His first 2 years I wanted him out of the league. Absolutely the worst thing to happen to a racetrack. He had 14 wrecks in those 2 seasons with 8 being in the first season. Just absolutely horrible. Then last year it seemed like there would be hope b/c Poncho Carter was keeping him between the lines and out of other drivers' cars but it still wasn't to be b/c the car wouldn't stay running. It made me start wondering if there had been any engineering changes on Panther's team. Were there? Now theyh've fired the voice of reason in his head and his wreckless, impatient driving have emerged again. We start this year with still...more DNFs. He has to have the worst luck ever! He will never be one of my favorites but I can certainly feel sorry for him.

In all of my frustration for Tomas the first 2 years he doesn't come close to how much of a menace I think A.J. Foyt IV or Matsuura are. Absolute track disasters everytime they field a car. Wow. I can't stand either one. When a driver, like Foyt IV, offer nothing engaging on the track besides their car with other cars then perhaps it's time to find another driver or go to another series. Two years he's changed the outcome of the Championships points b/c he knocked the leader out of the top coupled with having to miss a race b/c of injury. That's ridiculous. Ok....I'll stop ranting now.

[miamiyogi]

DefntlyDiffrnt,

I am having a hard time gauging how you feel here. Do you think Tomas is just a waste of time out there? I don't know sometimes I see a lot of intelligent driving by him and good strategy. I think the recent stuff is just rotten luck.

I know what its like to get frustrated, particularly when your driver is the one affected. I still can’t forgive Matsurra and can't stand to see him on the grid.

But I think lately much of what has been happening to Tomas isn't his fault.

[DefntlyDiffrnt]

Yeah I think that Tomas is just having some rotten luck now. The first 2 seasons were defntly him being impatient and wreckless. But the recent things - even last year were due to mechanical issues. I'd like to see him drive more disciplined but I can certainly see an improvement. So long as he keeps improving I got no beef with him out there.

Matsuura and Foyt IV are different. I want them out. Two years is enough - move along now.