IRL vs Formula One

[jpf]

Just a thought, but I would argue that being a Indy Car driver requires more talent than being a F1 driver. IRL races at road courses, street courses, ovals ranging in size from one mile to 2.5 miles (no banking/banking). All requiring much more bandwith of the driver than F1. The ex-F1 drivers in IRL seem to do "okay" but really haven't flourished.
Any reason why F1 wouldn't run a race at a European oval?

[Matt Harper]

Are you referring to IRL spec, which died around 2 and a half years ago, or today's IZOD Indycar Series, with the fugly dodgem cars and 50% of the field made up of semi-talented kids with wealthy daddys?

[Munter]

It's not a question of more or less talent.

To be good at all the different types of circuit an indy driver might be a jack of all trades, while a (front of the pack) F1 driver excels in "road" courses.

Then. How many top F1 drivers have moved to indy when they were at the top of their game? It's generally drivers not good enough in F1 to hold a seat (either through age, or lack of talent), which then look to indy as an option.

I couldn't drive either. So I'd say they are all pretty well up there!

[woof]

Matt Harper said:

Are you referring to IRL spec, which died around 2 and a half years ago, or today's IZOD Indycar Series, with the fugly dodgem cars and 50% of the field made up of semi-talented kids with wealthy daddys?

I can't watch it anymore.
THe old days of Indy Cart were terrific. Some of those races at Laguna Seca were amongst the best races I've ever seen!

[Matt Harper]

woof said:

I can't watch it anymore.

Not just you. Have you noticed, in the current season's TV coverage, they don't show crowd pics anymore - that's because, (with the exception of the Indy 500) there aren't any crowds - just acres of empty bleachers. They GIVE tickets away and still people can't be arsed to show up. This series is run by fking morons.

[SimonY]

Matt Harper said:

the fugly cars and 50% of the field made up of semi-talented kids with wealthy daddys?

Could also refer to F1.

Of course F1 gets the cream but quality of drivers across the Indycar field is high at the moment

Edited by SimonY on Monday 17th June 19:59

[RobGT81]

CART was epic, with some top drivers. IZOD is just a shambles.

Does anyone remember staying up each week to see if Mark Blundell finally get a win? He kept running out of fuel in the lead I seem to remember.


Amazing last lap win at Portland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qe3l3enlkU

Edited by RobGT81 on Monday 17th June 20:13

Edited by RobGT81 on Monday 17th June 20:20

[jas xjr]

genuine question , have any indy car drivers ever made the move to F1 ?

[RobGT81]

jas xjr said:

genuine question , have any indy car drivers ever made the move to F1 ?

Montoya?
Andretti didn't do well at McLaren.

Edited by RobGT81 on Monday 17th June 20:23

[jas xjr]

RobGT81 said:

jas xjr said:

genuine question , have any indy car drivers ever made the move to F1 ?

Montoya?

i thought he went from F1 to indy car

[GingerWizard]

RobGT81 said:

jas xjr said:

genuine question , have any indy car drivers ever made the move to F1 ?

Montoya?

I thought that was the other way round..... even if it was not the case if you saw him when he "returned" no way on gods green earth would he have fitted back into a F1 car.... maaahooosssiivvee!

[RobGT81]

jas xjr said:

i thought he went from F1 to indy car

Montoya did F1 testing before he got a race seat in CART, don't know if that counts.

[speedtwelve]

Sebastien Bourdais was a 4x champion in CART/Champ cars in the US before having a bash at F1.

Always wondered how Dario would have got on if he'd come over to F1 when younger.

[Mr_Thyroid]

Emerson Fittipaldi
Nigel Mansell
Jacques Villeneuve

Two went right to left
One went left to right

Are those 3 the only champions that swung both ways?

[designndrive62]

The only thing I can see being a major difference is that I think in indycar they get next to no driver aids, last I remember they didn't have power steering unlike those f1 lot

[cogitoergozoomo]

Alex Zanardi went from F1 (relatively unsuccessful in poor machinery) to CART (Double Champion) back to F1 (disaster) and back to CART and we all know what unfortunately happened there.

Cristiano Da Matta was another Champ Car champion to have a bash at F1.

Mario Andretti has one both as well.

[chevronb37]

I actually really like the current IndyCar era. The field really is pretty good these days and the cars are challenging to drive. Imagine doing a couple of hours around Belle Isle with no power steering. I'm not suggesting the average driver level is as high as F1, but as a racing spectacle I think it's now decent. Problem is the series has lost all its momentum after the moronic 1996 split.

[lxix]

Top F1 drivers, still at the top of their game, would destroy the field if they moved to IndyCar. Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso would easily win it in their first year just like Mansell did in ’93. (The field was a lot stronger in ’93 also)

Yes IndyCar drivers have to master more styles of driving but I think an F1 driver would pick it up quickly & beat them.

We have to remember that most of the IndyCar field are filled with drivers who failed to make it to F1 or who did make F1 but didn’t do quite as well, so surely if the best in F1 went over they’d beat them?

[Teppic]

Mr_Thyroid said:

Emerson Fittipaldi
Nigel Mansell
Jacques Villeneuve

Two went right to left
One went left to right

Are those 3 the only champions that swung both ways?

Hang your head in shame for missing Mario Andretti off of your list.

[funkyrobot]

lxix said:

We have to remember that most of the IndyCar field are filled with drivers who failed to make it to F1 or who did make F1 but didn’t do quite as well, so surely if the best in F1 went over they’d beat them?

Rubens Barrichello?

Let's not forget other drivers who moved between the two:

Michael Andretti
Cristiano Da Matta
Takuma Sato
Christian Fittipaldi
Enrique Bernoldi
Timo Glock
Justin Wilson
Antonio Pizzonia
Roberto Moreno
Tora Takagi
Alex Zanardi

Edited to add - they seemed to do better in Indycar (apart from Rubens).