I mentioned her before in a Danica Patrick thread. This lady is the real thing. Three wins in the 2005 Toyota Atlantics series, and placed third overall in the standings. I figured she would aim for F1. Good on her. F1 is where it's at in auto racing. I will be following her career for sure.
I mentioned her before in a Danica Patrick thread. This lady is the real thing. Three wins in the 2005 Toyota Atlantics series, and placed third overall in the standings. I figured she would aim for F1. Good on her. F1 is where it's at in auto racing. I will be following her career for sure.
While no doubt she can drive, but this is too bigger step. Atlantics have like 250hp and hardy any real racing series any more. In fact isn't Canada the only place that still runs them (New Zealand and Australia run them but only in historic races)? I think for her to be taken seriously she should do F3000 of even F3 in Europe.
The only person I know that jumped straight from Atlantics to F1 was Gilles Villeneuve and that was really thanks to James Hunt (I believe), giving him a huge rap. (Remember Gilles first tested and raced a McLaren ...).
Pete
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I agree. She's doing another year in the Atlantics. From there she should go GP2, or Champ car. If F1 is where she wants to go, then GP2 is the place to be.
I agree. She's doing another year in the Atlantics. From there she should go GP2, or Champ car. If F1 is where she wants to go, then GP2 is the place to be.
She really impressed at the Minardi test, but she's not in the running for an F1 seat anytime soon. She has a two-day Champ Car test coming up and Kalkhoven might put her in a Champ Car next year if she performs well. I think the Atlantic field was a bit light on talent this year, but it will be very competitive next year and if she stays for another season she can prove that this year was no fluke. I don't care what she does, but I look forward to watching her!
I don't get it??? If one says she isn't ready for F1 how can she be ready to seat a Champ car? These cars are very similar performance wise. That is if i remember my racing correctly.
Isn't Champ what's left of the IRL/CART fall out? Someone break it down for me cause i'm a bit confused here.
I don't get it??? If one says she isn't ready for F1 how can she be ready to seat a Champ car? These cars are very similar performance wise. That is if i remember my racing correctly.
Isn't Champ what's left of the IRL/CART fall out? Someone break it down for me cause i'm a bit confused here.
I didn't mean she isn't good enough for F1. A large number of F1 drivers are paying for their rides, and I'm sure she's better than some of them. But she doesn't have the money to buy a seat and she hasn't done enough to be hired for a real drive.
Apparently she's in great shape and she handled the F1 test very well. The Champ Cars are more physical to drive though, and they'll see how she does in her upcoming test before deciding to put her in Atlantics or Champ Car next year. As long as Kalkhoven is backing her, you can expect her to stay in one of the Champ Car series.
Champ Car is basically the old CART. They have all new cars coming for '07, but right now they aren't too much different than they were ten years ago. They might even be slower than they were four or five years ago because they detuned the engines when Cosworth started supplying the entire grid. The F1 cars have been a lot faster in recent years because they are so much lighter, they have more power, they have a tire war going on, etc... but they sure are expensive to run! Some say they're easier to drive because they have power steering, traction control, etc. The Champ Car races, especially street circuits, definitely look more strenous than the nice smooth European tracks.
I didn't mean she isn't good enough for F1. A large number of F1 drivers are paying for their rides, and I'm sure she's better than some of them. But she doesn't have the money to buy a seat and she hasn't done enough to be hired for a real drive.
Apparently she's in great shape and she handled the F1 test very well. The Champ Cars are more physical to drive though, and they'll see how she does in her upcoming test before deciding to put her in Atlantics or Champ Car next year. As long as Kalkhoven is backing her, you can expect her to stay in one of the Champ Car series.
Champ Car is basically the old CART. They have all new cars coming for '07, but right now they aren't too much different than they were ten years ago. They might even be slower than they were four or five years ago because they detuned the engines when Cosworth started supplying the entire grid. The F1 cars have been a lot faster in recent years because they are so much lighter, they have more power, they have a tire war going on, etc... but they sure are expensive to run! Some say they're easier to drive because they have power steering, traction control, etc. The Champ Car races, especially street circuits, definitely look more strenous than the nice smooth European tracks.
Man, goes to show how long i've ben away form the sport. Last time i was following was when F1 was going as fast as the tires would allow. Many drivers started getting in what some thought could have been preventable accidents so the sanctioning body started putting restrictions on the speeds and heavy pressure on the tire manufacturers to come up with a better solution. I guess this was all before the "platipus" design of the McClaren was unvailed. Even when i kept up with it i didn't know they bought their own seats. I thought it was contracted just like any onther racers position. Il'beit the contracts were enormous.
But now i see what you meant by not in F1, but maybe in Champ. Didn't watch her session but heard she kissed the wall. Got a little spooked from what she thought was a kick out and let off the throttle. I still think it would be nice to see some unusual players in the mix to raise the bar of competition, or at least keep the vets from resting on their butts. Hope she does well with her progression.
I have heard about the tracks/cars being more demanding on the drivers in the Indy and Champ cars. Don't know about the other tracks around the country, but St Pete did a really nice job of putting down a glass smooth black top for their curcuit. It may not be the greatest track in the country but all the drivers raved about it. Plus there is nothing like sitting against the retaining wall as the cars scream past you at 160+ with engines blasting a 18,000 rpm note in your ear and leaving you soaked in the smell of methanol. They make it look so easy one would think you could just jump in and have a go.
Didn't watch her session but heard she kissed the wall. Got a little spooked from what she thought was a kick out and let off the throttle.
Yeah, I think she spun on her first day. It was cold and I think she said something about the traction control catching her by suprise. But on the second day she ran fast and consistent laps and apparently impressed the important people. I read that Stoddart called Kalkhoven and woke him up in the middle of the night to tell him that she was the real deal.
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Originally Posted by varium
Plus there is nothing like sitting against the retaining wall as the cars scream past you at 160+ with engines blasting a 18,000 rpm note in your ear and leaving you soaked in the smell of methanol.
I hear ya! Perfect Sunday afternoon!
I was bummed when they detuned the Champ Car engines. It was very noticable at Long Beach - one year they were up over 16,000 RPM, and the next year they were barely hitting 12,000. It was pretty disappointing, and it really changed the experience... I hope the new car screams like they used to.
And it'll be fun to hear the new F1 V8's at Indy next year - they could be up over 20K! But I'm not sure I'm brave enough to plan a trip to the USGP after last year's fiasco.
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They make it look so easy one would think you could just jump in and have a go.
Have you ever seen the visor cam shots from some of these street courses? I haven't seen it lately, but I remember SPEED used to put a camera inside Paul Tracy's helmet so that you are looking through the visor. I thought this driving stuff looked easy until watching a few laps around Long Beach from his perspective! I couldn't believe how bumpy and violent it seemed to be inside the cockpit.
Katherine Legge Testing A Minardi F1.........
They make it look so easy one would think you could just jump in and have a go.
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