An Engine For Shank

[mlauman20]

Screw it, I hope to high heaven that Honda or Chevy give Shank an engine and Lotus rolls an extra car out on bump day and knocks his entitlement ass right out of the field.

Herta and DRR have not played games and had real money, not real promises. I'm glad to see them get the upgrade. Shank and his operation have been hot air from the beginning, if his deal is real now, then I guess he should have thought about that when he was mouthing off about not getting team money earlier this year when in reality he didn't have full time money. I can see why Chevy or Honda may be leary to give this guy a motor, since he's been full of it since the beginning.

I don't blame Honda and I don't blame Chevy, they're already way over what they promised. Lotus sucks, and Shank is welcome to decline the motor, but I'm tired of it.

[crispy]

Good for Shank. Stick it to IMS. They're ultimately the ones that made a bad deal.

They don't have to be happy with scraps. Nobody should have to be happy with scraps.

Remember, they're not allowed to change engine manufacturers from here on out, so if they take a Lotus, they're stuck with Lotus for the rest of the year.

[IndyRob]

Well, it is only May 1st and i'm sure that by the Sunday of Quals, there will be a 33rd car that will come to light from someone like Foyt or Panther. The engine will magically appear but it does suck that it can't happen before the month starts.

[ttturner68]

Could it be that their sponsor won't sign on for a Lotus deal? I think that's as likely as anything else.

Your 33, Your in the show.... unless there are others coming but come on. KL has been way off the pace all year has never seen the track. Unless there are 2 other 2nd week entries which there most likely is then your pretty safe in the field. Keep it clean and you get a top 15 finish with a Briggs in the rear.

Sponsor know they are not winning with Shank they just want some coverage on the TV.

[RS2]

Good for Shank. Stick it to IMS. They're ultimately the ones that made a bad deal.

They don't have to be happy with scraps. Nobody should have to be happy with scraps.

Remember, they're not allowed to change engine manufacturers from here on out, so if they take a Lotus, they're stuck with Lotus for the rest of the year.

How is he sticking it to IMS? I don't get it.

[ttturner68]

How is he sticking it to IMS? I don't get it.

DFtT

[crispy]

Sponsor know they are not winning with Shank they just want some coverage on the TV.

Well, let's think about this...

1. A little known one-off won Indy last year.

2. MSR won the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona beating the likes of Ganassi.

Pesky facts...

[iloveindycars]

Screw it, I hope to high heaven that Honda or Chevy give Shank an engine and Lotus rolls an extra car out on bump day and knocks his entitlement ass right out of the field.

Herta and DRR have not played games and had real money, not real promises. I'm glad to see them get the upgrade. Shank and his operation have been hot air from the beginning, if his deal is real now, then I guess he should have thought about that when he was mouthing off about not getting team money earlier this year when in reality he didn't have full time money. I can see why Chevy or Honda may be leary to give this guy a motor, since he's been full of it since the beginning.

I don't blame Honda and I don't blame Chevy, they're already way over what they promised. Lotus sucks, and Shank is welcome to decline the motor, but I'm tired of it.

I totally agree! If he is begging but choosing at the same time he is just another entitlement case. Lotus is there. Pay your dues. If he does get in I will boo his team the entire month.

[Glenn]

Screw it, I hope to high heaven that Honda or Chevy give Shank an engine and Lotus rolls an extra car out on bump day and knocks his entitlement ass right out of the field.

Herta and DRR have not played games and had real money, not real promises. I'm glad to see them get the upgrade. Shank and his operation have been hot air from the beginning, if his deal is real now, then I guess he should have thought about that when he was mouthing off about not getting team money earlier this year when in reality he didn't have full time money. I can see why Chevy or Honda may be leary to give this guy a motor, since he's been full of it since the beginning.

I don't blame Honda and I don't blame Chevy, they're already way over what they promised. Lotus sucks, and Shank is welcome to decline the motor, but I'm tired of it.

Exactly the feelings I've been getting watching Shank's dealings so far this year.

[Bryan_Weber]

Why didn't Penske or Ganassi "accept" a Lotus? It is a garbage engine that will take anyone with one out of any chance for success. If that is the best you can do, ANY team would be better off pulling their car until they can get real equipment that will allow them to compete.

Shank racing is doing what is needed to compete. If they can't compete, they will not be in the race. That is a good business decision for any racing team. Same goes for any driver.

This has nothing to do with being spoiled. That is what all winners do.

[Glenn]

Why didn't Penske or Ganassi "accept" a Lotus? It is a garbage engine that will take anyone with one out of any chance for success. If that is the best you can do, ANY team would be better off pulling their car until they can get real equipment that will allow them to compete.

Shank racing is doing what is needed to compete. If they can't compete, they will not be in the race. That is a good business decision for any racing team. Same goes for any driver.

This has nothing to do with being spoiled. That is what all winners do.

I think you mis-spelled "whiners."

But in all seriousness, how bad does he want to race? OK, the Lotus engine is not good right now, but I'm betting that John Judd will make it competitive by the end of the season. And the biggest problem Lotus will have being competitive by the end of this year is they only have one really good driver (Seb).

And the last thing, even last place pays darn well at Indy.

[Grizzlor]

It's a numbers game, that simple. Strange that Honda will go to 15 cars at Indy but Chevy won't go past 14.

[Muskie4041]

There isn't a Chevy engine. There isn't a Honda engine. Take the Lotus, or shut up.

[debdrake]

There isn't a Chevy engine. There isn't a Honda engine. Take the Lotus, or shut up.

My bet is that if he does, a 34th engine shows up (and I don't mean another Lotus.)

[Racing Steward]

There isn't a Chevy engine. There isn't a Honda engine. Take the Lotus, or shut up.

THANK YOU!

[Glenn]

My bet is that if he does, a 34th engine shows up (and I don't mean another Lotus.)

Maybe that's why Indycar has not gotten back to him. Maybe there is already a deal in the background to pull out a 33rd car if only 32 look likely. And if so, I'm betting it's a 16th Honda in a Foyt back-up car with Buddy Rice at the wheel (or maybe Jay Howard since he has sponsorship lined up).

[debdrake]

Maybe that's why Indycar has not gotten back to him. Maybe there is already a deal in the background to pull out a 33rd car if only 32 look likely. And if so, I'm betting it's a 16th Honda in a Foyt back-up car with Buddy Rice at the wheel (or maybe Jay Howard since he has sponsorship lined up).

I figure there's a deal - less sure it's with Foyt (or Honda). I could see Ed/Panther doing something together, for example.
(And that's why Shank won't take the Lotus.)

[Muskie4041]

My bet is that if he does, a 34th engine shows up (and I don't mean another Lotus.)

That would change things a little bit, but the manufacturers should have a say in who they do business with. If Shank wanted a Honda or Chevy so bad, he should have tried to partner with an existing team working with one of the top 2 manufacturers.

[AFColt]

It's also worth pointing out the Jean Alesi is still stating he's going to be in a Lotus for Indy. I'll believe when he's on track, though...

[debdrake]

That would change things a little bit, but the manufacturers should have a say in who they do business with. If Shank wanted a Honda or Chevy so bad, he should have tried to partner with an existing team working with one of the top 2 manufacturers.

There's the problem - if you have the money, they should sell (or at least lease) you an engine. If I walk into the local Chevy dealership with 100 grand in my pocket, I can buy whatever they've got on the lot - or they'll happily order me whatever I want. Race cars (and engines) should be no different.

[mlauman20]

There's the problem - if you have the money, they should sell (or at least lease) you an engine. If I walk into the local Chevy dealership with 100 grand in my pocket, I can buy whatever they've got on the lot - or they'll happily order me whatever I want. Race cars (and engines) should be no different.

Sorry, but I can't agree, I can understand why a manufacturer would not want to business with someone. Whether it be other commitments or competition in another series (Shank runs Fords in Grand Am), or if someone is just flat out a bad business person, or just maybe someone trying to race with your product is just flat out a bad person (I mean it would be embarassing in this day and age if a manufacturer was associated with the Whittingtons or the John Pauls).

[hoop-98]

There's the problem - if you have the money, they should sell (or at least lease) you an engine. If I walk into the local Chevy dealership with 100 grand in my pocket, I can buy whatever they've got on the lot - or they'll happily order me whatever I want. Race cars (and engines) should be no different.

Go try to buy an ALMS GT Corvette, you can't for any amount. For that matter, try to buy a Factory KTM, Honda, Suzuki, or Kawasaki MX, not for sale.

[Oldfan]

There isn't a Chevy engine. There isn't a Honda engine. Take the Lotus, or shut up.

Agreed.

There are teams that have committed the time, money, sponsorship and effort to running the full season and are stuck with the terrible Lotus engine and now this guy comes in at the last second and starts demanding a Chevy/Honda rocket ship. Forget it, he doesn't deserve one.

Somebody else used the word "entitled" and I think that's appropriate. Why does he feel he's more entitled to a competitive engine than full timers who are supporting the series week in and week out?

Accept a Lotus that's available or take a hike, Mike.

And please stop with the whine fest.

[Muskie4041]

There's the problem - if you have the money, they should sell (or at least lease) you an engine. If I walk into the local Chevy dealership with 100 grand in my pocket, I can buy whatever they've got on the lot - or they'll happily order me whatever I want. Race cars (and engines) should be no different.

What if there are no cars on the lot, and every car in the production pipeline is already spoken for?

[Bryan_Weber]

There isn't a Chevy engine. There isn't a Honda engine. Take the Lotus, or shut up.

They have made it 100% clear....No real engine and we don't race. This is a smart business decision. Put a boat anchor under the cowl and run around wildy off the pace and you deserve to have the reputation of a loser. Losers soon don't have sponsors, and they deserve to not have sponsors. If you don't come to compete, don't show up. I will be anyone here a case of your choice, that if there are only 32, somewhere by the magic of motorsports, another Honda or Chevy will come out of the woodwork on Sunday. Let me guess....no takers?

[Bryan_Weber]

Agreed.

There are teams that have committed the time, money, sponsorship and effort to running the full season and are stuck with the terrible Lotus engine and now this guy comes in at the last second and starts demanding a Chevy/Honda rocket ship. Forget it, he doesn't deserve one.

Somebody else used the word "entitled" and I think that's appropriate. Why does he feel he's more entitled to a competitive engine than full timers who are supporting the series week in and week out?

Accept a Lotus that's available or take a hike, Mike.

And please stop with the whine fest.

He is already made it 100% clear. He has zero interest in the Lotus. If you have no chance at a top ten, why even show up, and he won't. That is a smart team owner there. Show up next year, when you can race with a real package.

[Oldfan]

He is already made it 100% clear. He has zero interest in the Lotus. If you have no chance at a top ten, why even show up, and he won't. That is a smart team owner there. Show up next year, when you can race with a real package.

I don't have a problem with that. Other than his obvious feeling of entitlement, like he's somehow "earned the right" to have a Chevy or Honda. Stop the whining, stay home, and do it right next year.

I know this, if Shank gets a Chevy or Honda, and if I'm one of the full-time Lotus drivers, I throw the mother of all Helio Castroneves Blocks on Howard every time he comes up to lap me in the race. And I don't care if I get penalized either because it's not going to change the outcome for me.

[ptclaus98]

Go try to buy an ALMS GT Corvette, you can't for any amount. For that matter, try to buy a Factory KTM, Honda, Suzuki, or Kawasaki MX, not for sale.

But you can go buy a Porsche GT2 that is very much capable of beating the blocks off of that GT2 Vette. THAT is the problem. That they don't care at all about random makes crashing the party in ALMS, but in IndyCar they all of a sudden are afraid of being shown the door by any old engine that can be put in the back of a DW12? Doesn't make sense.

[Billy Chin]

Good for Shank. Stick it to IMS. They're ultimately the ones that made a bad deal.

They don't have to be happy with scraps. Nobody should have to be happy with scraps.

Remember, they're not allowed to change engine manufacturers from here on out, so if they take a Lotus, they're stuck with Lotus for the rest of the year.

Exactly. Indycar made the rules that led to this situation. No reason for Shank or any sponsor to spend a dime on a Lotus. Indycar is lucky they're only one car short right now.

[NSRSBoiler]

There isn't a Chevy engine. There isn't a Honda engine. Take the Lotus, or shut up.

Would you, if you were in his position? People like Shank don't become successful taking on deals that only get them in the race. He frickin' won the 24 Hours of Daytona this year. If you are a truck driver, are you going to buy some piece of crap that might not get you to the delivery drop-off? If you in Shank's position and you can spend your money in a more productive fashion somewhere else, then it is a no-brainer.

Fans always separate business and sport. But for the people IN the sport, it is nothing but business.