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Goodbye Dan, Hello Marco!

Written by George Katinger · October 31, 2005

In what could be an opportunity for AGR, Dan Wheldon, the newly crowned IRL series champion and Indy 500 winner will be leaving the team for an F1 ride. The opportunity part is having a seat available for young Marco Andretti.


speedtv.com: Wheldon F1-Bound
paddocktalk.com: F1/IRL: More Speculation on Wheldon’s F1 Future ???

His departure to Williams F1 makes lots of sense. Frank has announced they will run a third car on Fridays, and if it’s Wheldon it will introduce him to all the tracks next year. It will also allow Williams to evaluate Wheldon’s talents, and possibly develop that British driver/sponsor relationship he was looking for from that Jenson guy. A good thing all around.

And what of Honda’s links to Wheldon? Maybe, just maybe that Honda engine in the back of the Williams may materialize in ‘07. It’s a long shot, with Honda coming out with their own “B” squad. Unlikely, but still possible.

But the biggest winner has to be young Marco Andretti. There had to be some contingent planning at AGR, relative to finding a seat for the boy. Maybe Michael was planning on another year of seasoning in a junior category. But the departure of Wheldon will make it much easier to slide Marco up to the big time. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a race with all three Andretti’s on track? Just a one off race at a slower track so Mario can’t get airborne again. Now that’s a race I would watch, not to mention half the country.

Filed Under F1, IRL 

Comments

4 Responses to “Goodbye Dan, Hello Marco!”

  1. peterg on October 31st, 2005 5:52 pm

    Regarding marc & myself in a recent post George said “You guys never let me have any uncontested fun!

    Well I won’t contest this one George!?

    I hear Rossi has signed to drive for A.J Foyt next year.

  2. Marc on October 31st, 2005 6:23 pm

    Just what the IRL needs, another drain of talent away from its series.

    Not that F1 is any great leak of talent but with that humongous talent magnet called NASCAR pulling drivers away from open wheel it all adds up.

    On the other hand yopu have Frentzen possibly leaving DTM to join the Champ Car series in ‘06. Hardly an even trade considering his age but at least someone is looking at the US.

    George have you seen the stories saying Goodyear and GM are in talks to start an F1 team? My first thought was why when GM is hemorraging cash like a hemopheliac oozes blood.

    The other side is GM’s savior, China. A GM GY F1 team would raise a higher profile with the Asian (read China) market. In that context it makes sense.

  3. peterg on October 31st, 2005 8:22 pm

    I’m reaching her Marc but re your GM proposal I can see an additional angle, the team would be branded GMC (General Motors Corporation) however there would be the opportunity for host country domestic marques to share the signage or livery on the car. GM Cadillac/USA; GM Holden/Australia; GM Opel/Europe; GM/Vauxhall, United Kingdom. It’s not unheard of in touring cars or by GMC, Holden Australia “branded” BTCC GM Vauxhall’s for a 2 litre endurance race in Oz & I think something similar was done in Brazil/Europe with Chevrolet & Opel. With their numerous marques it would spread the load for GM from a promotional & commercial view to justify the huge investment that is F1.

  4. Marc on November 1st, 2005 4:10 am

    I agree, with the domestic angle. You also see that in the Australian SuperCar Series with Holden/GM.

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