rpm.espn.com: Comments on IRL drivers

ESPN Network: ESPN.com \| RPM \| NBA.com \| NHL.com \| ESPNdeportes \| ABCSports \| FANTASY

Monday, December 22
Updated: January 3, 7:52 PM ET

Comments on IRL drivers
ESPN.com

We spotlighted IRL drivers Sarah Fisher, A.J. Foyt IV and Dario Franchitti. Here are are your thoughts on their '03 campaigns and prospects for next season:


	Fisher

I don't see what's all the fuss about this driver. What has this driver really done to keep getting a ride when there are other drivers who deserve the chance to show what they can do. Now that there's more CART drivers coming to the IRL, you should see more drivers like this one trying to hold on!!!!

Ben Martinez
Baytown, Texas

Absolutely she needs to get a top-quality ride! She is great publicity for the IRL, and frankly, has not had the opportunity to show what she can really do (except for a few isolated races). I love Sarah and so do the young fans (girls included!) Come on, sponsors, step forward and get this young lady a great ride. Whatever you sell, I will buy, and so will all her fans.

Sandi
Columbus, Ohio

I saw Sarah drive at Chicago in 2001 and have no doubt she has what it takes to drive competitively and win... provided she gets with 1) a top notch team that can provide the equipment,and 2) She hooks up with a chief mechanic that can work with her and understand her as to what her car needs. Too many times I've watched her on track complaining that she is loose or tight and the crew just cannot get it right. To be able to drive a car when it is not right, at the speeds the IRL requires is a testimony as to her skills (just to keep it off the wall). In Chicago, they finally got it right, and with that in place she not only drove competitively, but she led the race...and when the competition from the big teams got beside her, she fought them off for lap after lap. Her last pit stop undid the setup and she faded. I really hope someone who wants a great spokesman will back her. She is terrific, has a great future, and can you imagine the great publicity for the sponser who figures this out. What a terrific investment. As the young people say ....You GO girl!

Larry Pickens
Bloomington, Ind.

Regardless of team, Fisher does not have the training/expertise to race in this league. All the talk about the new engine was just that -- talk. It made no difference in her performance and the results.

You don't win races by going backwards from your starting position!

Judythe La Londe
Indianapolis, Ind.

I think given the right situation, Sarah has the talent to shine. But she needs to shine soon, cause the gimmick of being the only female in the garage will give way sooner than later when Danika Patrick moves up to Indycars.

Marc Newman
Euless, Texas

While I wish Sarah the best in 2004, and while she is certainly a great spokesperson for the sport, I just have not seen the consistent ability to race in a pack and lead. While her first season was promising, her race craft lacks cadence and subsequent seasons have only reinforced this view. While Sarah can clearly get in the car and drive it, so can dozens of other established (Al Unser, Jr., Jeff Ward, Buddy Rice, Buddy Lazier, etc.) racers looking for rides as well. The reality is that Sarah is mired in the 'third tier' and has not demonstrated an ability to consistently win. Will '04 be a breakout season for her? Time will tell.

Chuck Jones
Stevensville, Mich.


	Foyt IV

I have watched this kid race on the dirt track near his home in Waller, Texas and he never was impressive then, what can you say, the guy has no buisness on the track now. He was rushed through the system and only has a ride because of his grandfather. Let's face it who else would give this guy a chance in open wheel, CART or the IRL? No one! There are way too many good drivers far more deserving of a ride than this guy, his boneheaded grandfather needs to stop putting him in a car he has no buisness being in. After meeting AJ senior at the track AJ IV used to race at in Waller, TX, and then seeing his many temper tantrums, ridiculous outbursts, and watching what he is pushing AJ IV into, I have lost all respect for AJ Foyt, he is a self-centered jackass, who refuses to utilize the available technology through engineers and computers and this is putting everyone on the track at risk because AJ IV is never up to speed.

John Cassis
Houston, Texas

He's not his grandfather! He never will be. When everyone realizes this, and gives the kid a break, he'll do fine. Think about it...if he wins 30 races, including 2 Indy 500s, he'll have had a great career, but he still will only be half of AJ II.

Ivan Beckles
London, Ontario

Two drivers that should not be driving in the IRL until they get some solid experience in a lesser series are Sarah Fisher and A.J. Foyt. Of the two, Fisher is probably a bit better, but not much. Fisher seems tentative and Foyt just seems out of his league.

Tom Kennedy
New Orleans, La.

I believe if AJ Jr, could pony up a veteran teamate with AJ IV, it would provide a level of esprit de corp that often can help young drivers measure their worth without always having Grandad jawing in your ear...especially at 220 mph. I listened to the car radio at Indy last year, and if that kid can run Indy with earplugs taped to his ears and AJ Jr yelling at him while he is whizzing around at 220 mph...and do that on his 19th birthday...then I can only assume he has the genes to be great. Now he needs someone outside the Foyt stable to saddle up with and this kid will take off.

Of course, the new rules and lower HP will probably work to his benefit all other things being equal. I'm rooting for him to have several top 10 finishes in 04' !!

Jeff Morss
Omaha, Neb.


	Franchitti

A talented and competitive driver for sure, but a fully committed one still remains to be seen. Andretti likes the skills of Dario and is glad to have him on the team, but I wonder what AGR will gain by having him for maybe one season at best. I would guess that Dario will not be interested in risking it all in a three-wide battle at the end of a race, lest what befell Mr. Brack, happens to him and jeopardize his future career elsewhere. Talented, but likely not fully committed enough to win a championship, hence a good corporate driver who will do the meet and greets, finish eighth in the points (assuming a healthy back and full season), and look for something else to do in 2005.

David Zehr
Goshen, Ind.

There is no way this guy is going to succeed in the IRL. He is clearly scared of the whole thing and has tried everything to stay in road racing rather than risk his butt on high speed ovals. Hate to sound negative but he has a lot of proving to do if its otherwise. btw all of us in Texas who got reamed by CART (which DF is at heart) are sort of enjoying their well-deserved plunge into oblivion.

Chuck Tamplin
Dallas, Texas

Dario can absolutely rebound from his 2003 season. This is not the first time he has been out of the car. In 2000 he was injured in a testing accident and found himself right back on pace during the '00 campaign as well as collecting a win and several podiums in '01, until he found himself back in the championship hunt in '02. He is a superb road racer but anyone who says he can't race on ovals has not followed his career. He was always a factor for his competitors, whether it was an oval or road coarse, and his lone oval win does not reflect this. He is a complete racer who is competitive on all types of tracks. He will race his hardest for whichever team he drives for. I expect him to be in the championship hunt his first year back. Eventually, Dario should emerge as the team frontrunner.

Michael Fontanetta
Manhasset, N.Y.

Dartin' Dario will rebound nicely. Regardless of his desire to race the CART series or not, he will give 110% to his team and to Mike. By the end of the '03 season, Honda power was down compared to Chevy and Toyota and Team A&G still held on nicely. With Dario back in '04 and some improvements to Honda, the IRL will be singing 'Darting Dario' and 'Tornado Tony' all '04 long.

Randy Dehn
Aliso Viejo, Calif.

Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

	IRL off-season driver spotlight index