USAC Drivers To F1?
Written by DJ Samson · August 2, 2005
Formula 1 has always had its “feeder system” where drivers would move up the ranks to F1. Almost all F1 drivers started racing open wheel road course series when they were young. Mario Andretti is the only USAC champion to make it to F1, but that was a long time ago and times have greatly changed.
My question is: “is there such thing as a series that both F1 owners and NASCAR owners look for young talent?” USAC is one of the most exciting American open-wheeled series. USAC drivers have dominated NASCAR and a select few have done well in Champ Car and IRL.
F1 owners don’t usually look at Champ Car or IRL for drivers. American drivers probably only have one chance at F1 and that is if they win the Red Bull Driver Search.
NASCAR owners aren’t that accepting of road course drivers either. Brent Sherman and Aaron Fike are Busch Series drivers with road racing and USAC backgrounds (respectively) that are having trouble in stock car racing.
USAC drivers are incredible because they can adapt to any type of racecar of racetrack. Their dirt track experience helps too. I think if F1 owners were more “open” to American drivers, they would steal many great drivers that were headed to NASCAR
But unfortunately, most USAC drivers would pick NASCAR over an open-wheel ride any day. I don’t think anyone could blame them. I think the only way an USAC driver would go to Champ Car is if they had a chance for an F1 ride.
It’s too bad that American open wheelers can’t catch the eye of F1 owners, because if they did, we would have good, hard racing.
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To break into F1 for any driver is a near impossibility. To catch an F1 team owner’s eye all’s an American driver has to do is wave around $5,000,000 bucks under his nose and he/she would be in a Minardi or Jordan in a greenback second.
Think of how many seats there are available in NASCAR in all the different series and levels of competition. Very many, I’d guess well over a hundred? Maybe 200 hundred? F1 has 18. Not good odds for any driver.
Excellent point George.
As far as “feeder series” goes the new A1GP that starts in September may eventually be just that. Assuming of course the series survives.
With 25 teams and 50 drivers competing in 12 events it will provide a venue for lesser known drivers to display their talents.
I’m not familiar with A1GP but I took a look at their web site. I wonder who is going to get the American ride. Scott Speed and Colin Flemings are probably top contenders unless Red Bull wants to put them in Formula Renault or an other European series. Nur Ali, the Pakistan driver in A1GP has only 7 years experience and has done well in Star Mazda and Skip Barber. I said it once, if an A1GP team signed Bobby East or Josh Wise they would see awesome results.
are we forgetting the Indy 500 winners that have made the jump to F1 based 80%+ of the one race win? Villinue and JPM come to mind. Zanardi made the jump also. none are American but they still came from American racing. Micheal Andretti was hurt by the team and time he landed his ride more than anything in my mind. The best way into a F1 seat is to make the hard choice Danica Patrick did and move to Europe to race in the feeder series there.
I agree, but it is alot more complicated then just moving to Europe in the feeeder series. A kid can’t come home from school and tell his mom and dad that he wants to race in F1 when he grows older and they need to move to Britain. I agree what George said. I think F1 has alot of politics and if an American made it to F1 (currently) they would need the right connections.
Hey DJ, I forgot to compliment you on your posting ideas and comments, keep up the good work. Just because a clown like me may not agree with your opinions doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate reading the content. Rave on dude, rave on!
Good post and conversation.
Although you have to admit that both Jaques and JPM were both “insiders” before landing F1 rides.
i want to become the f1 driver and i want all detail information. please send me the information as early as possible. thank you.
manjur husian,
It takes alot more than just information to become an F1 driver. F1 owners take the best of the best. It’s an honor to just be one of the 18 drivers in an F1 race. Skip Barber, Star Mazda, Russel, etc. are all racing series that develop open wheel drivers. Half the time the winners of those series usually only get an IRL ride if they don’t win the Red Bull Driver Search. Skip Barber is a rip-off. They charge you damage fees that can make someone broke.
Check out my article at threewideracingonline.com and click on “Skip Barber Racing.”
The new A1GP is definetly a series for underdog drivers. Money goes a long way in racing. Especially if you want to race over seas.
I’, not sure what country you are from, but if your from the U.S. you have a long way to go because there are thousands of others with the same dream as you. NASCAR is reasonable dream for the middle class American.
I’m not saying that making F1 is harder than NASCAR, but trying to race competitivly over seas is always hard. New language, new team, etc. And if your parents don’t have the money to take you over seas, your either not going or your going with out anyone.
Sorry,
I forgot to tell you something. Open wheel road racing is very complicated. You can be a great road racer but only end up with a medicore IRL/Champ Car ride. To me, I couldn’t settle for that. That’s why I’m going through USAC ranks so I can take a shot at open wheel road racing and end up with a top knotch Cup ride because USAC drivers can kick all of the rich drivers such as Steve Wallace, etc., because all they are doing is driving stock cars to race stock cars. It isn’t the 1960’s anymore, to be in NASCAR you need to know how to race.
“i want to become the f1 driver and i want all detail information. please send me the information as early as possible. thank you.”
First thing you have to do is sell your sole to Flavio Briattore, or one of the other F1 power brokers.
Paul Tracy’s one and only shot at F1 (some 10 years ago) was destroyed when he was invited to test a Benetton and flew to Europe only to find that Flavio wouldn’t allow him to test unless he signed a long-term management contract.
Kelly you raise a good point,actually, Tracy took a look at the contract & realised it contained ” i will be a no arguments No.2 to Schumacher” clauses.Wisely Paul said no way!A real pity because Tracy in a decent F1 ride would have been fantastic.
But woudln’t a “descent” F1 ride be better than a good Champ Car ride? Tracy could have worked his way up after his contract ended.
hey peeps….. i m a 16 year old boy from pakistan n i m very much interested in car racing. i want 2 get in 2 professional racing can any 1 help me out. my country is participating in A1GP but it takes alot 2 get through because of politics n politicians favouring people. is there any way i can get into A1GP or Formula-1 as a racer. i don’t have much xperience but i some times race up-grade cars. those with turbos n stuff…..
i m here for help…. please help me out.
With all honesty, and I am not trying to affend anyone and excuse me if I did, but before I found out about A1GP I didn’t know that there was racing in Pakistan. Also, I think the Pakistan A1GP team may be the easiest to get in. I’m not sure if the driver is still there, but they had a driver that only raced in the Skip Barber Series. That’s a starter series for an IRL driver.
Pakistan may have alot of politics but I don’t think any racing series doesn’t have it. I mean look at NASCAR. Carl Edwards may be the only young driver that came up from a poor-middle class family.
If you don’t have money growing out of your ears like some drivers, get a job and save every penny towards a car.
You won’t be able to race in Pakistan because I don’t think there are many series there. You’re most likely going to have to move to the US or Europe. Good Luck.
hello.. I am firat I living turkey in istanbul. I am 20 years old. I want to be formula 1 driver. so please can you help me.I very good driver I believe self, I trust self, please.
O.K FOR A START F1 CARS A THE MOST AGILE CARS ON THE PLANET THEY CAN TURN A CORNER AT 220MPH AND STILL BRAKE ONLY 50 METERS FROM THE NEXT CORNER AT 220MPH THE CAN STOP FROM 230MPH (TOP SPEED LIMITED) in less than 80 feet and the turning circule is about 1/1 ie on the spot if the f1 car was unlimited it would go about 300mph and still brake in less than 90 meters irl is just racing around in circules if i had the choice over f1or irl i would chose f1 more tv coverage more money dam loads more money
top speed f1 230mph limited unlimited 300mph+ brakeing distance 230mph to 0 80 feet from 300mph to 0 110 feet irl top speed 250mph brakeing distance 150 meters from 250mph lol thats a long distance if i was to chose from irl and f1 i would chose f1 based on the fact more money faster cars in many ways to irl 950hp irl 1100 bhp f1 may be slower than irl but i like f1 got all the games on ps2 and think that f1 cars sound sexyer than irl cars
Damn…you guys just like…crushed my hopes and dreams… what am I gonna do now.. Do I keep going if I want it as bad as I do or just forget about F1? I grew up on F1…literally. This really sucks.