Red Bull offers Klien Champ Car

[ptistheboss]

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=127112

I would chalk this up as pretty likely. I would have to assume this means Red Bull on the sidepods.

Red Bull offers Klien Champ Car

10 August 2006
Formula One is most likely going to say goodbye to Christian Klien at the end of the season. Mark Webber will replace the Austrian Red Bull driver next season and now Red Bull has made Klien an offer to race in the American Champ Car series.



"We made Klien an offer to race in Champ Car and there is also an alternative to race in the DTM series. He has two weeks to think about it," Red Bull motorsport director Helmut Marko told Austrian newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten. "The door to Formula 1 is still open for Klien but only after he has shown what he can do in Champ Car."

For Marko the reason of Klien's departure is clear. "At the start of the season Klien was given one target: beat David Coulthard. He was not able to do it neither in the races nor in the free practice sessions. He had a good first season but he was unable to develop himself."

[SnakePitLounge]

Red Bull has a lot of drivers. You don't see Buddy Rice have Red Bull on his car.

[ptistheboss]

Im not sure what your point is, but why would Red Bull pay for Klien's ride in CC and not be on his sidepods?

[Chris Paff]

pt u happy about another F1 reject going to Champ Car.. I bet alot people will fill up Long Beach to see him race..

[elio]

Is filling the grid a bad thing?

[Scott]

Are Champ Car fans really happy that their series has become the home of F1 dropouts and wannabes?

[logjammer]

Are Champ Car fans really happy that their series has become the home of F1 dropouts and wannabes?

Yeh, kinda like the TK's, Dario's, Scheckters,Brisco's, Helio's and on and on, take the blinders off.

[Mack Too]

I'm not sure what your point is, but why would Red Bull pay for Klien's ride in CC and not be on his sidepods?

They probably have a contract to live up to and The CCWS will probably pay them the going rate to run. It's a matter of dollars and sense.

[ptistheboss]

They probably have a contract to live up to and The CCWS will probably pay them the going rate to run. It's a matter of dollars and sense.

I'm confused again. CCWS is going to pay Red Bull to run Klien?

[ptistheboss]

Are Champ Car fans really happy that their series has become the home of F1 dropouts and wannabes?

Yes. Justin Wilson is an amazingly nice guy and amazing driver.

[Doc Austin]

Are Champ Car fans really happy that their series has become the home of F1 dropouts and wannabes?

I think if the prince of darkness drove in champcar we'de be hearing about what a swell guy he is.

Yeh, kinda like the TK's, Dario's, Scheckters,Brisco's, Helio's and on and on, take the blinders off.

That's right...kind of like those guys, and plenty of IRL fans aren't happy about it.

One exception, of course, would be TK, who earned his way all the way, though I don't think you'll find a lot of Dario fans here. Scheckter says he wants to be in the IRL, which I think is probably a far, far cry from how Klien feels about being farmed out to champcar purgatory.

Briscoe belongs in Grand American with his mentor Wayne Taylor. He's just plain bad news on an oval.

[mesquite]

Are Champ Car fans really happy that their series has become the home of F1 dropouts and wannabes?

Same ol' same ol' double-standard around here:
F1 wannabee in IRL=talented, GOOD, earned the ride driver
F1 wannabee in Champcar=washout, retiring wannabee

Let's see ... wasn't that Indy 500 winner Helio running around IMS during the USGP a few years back, practically hopping on one foot with helmet in hand at the prospect of Jaguar handing a ride to him.

Reality check: Some of the best drivers in both series are F1 wannabees.

BTW ... if Klein gets a ride in Champcar, and that's another DP01 on the grid ... that's a great thing.

[Grover]

That's a good get for CC.

Anyone who claims adding a paid quality driver in a sponsored ride is a bad thing is an idiot.

Sorry if that is name-calling, but come on....

[Grinder-Tank]

To think that it might be an ending of an agreement is logical. But who knows? Red Bull may have some inside information.

[Jakester]

I'd not be tossing about the 'wanna-be' label if my series had Marty Roth and Jon Herb.

[Jay J]

Are Champ Car fans really happy that their series has become the home of F1 dropouts and wannabes?

Dude, I've got news for you....
Champcar, CART and for that matter the IRL too, has ALWAYS been "a" home for drivers on their way up to F1, or like Emo, Nigel, and many others, on their way down from F1.

It's been that way for nearly 30 years!

The only possible exception might be the Indy 500, but you already knew that.

[Scott]

As Doc pointed out, a lot of IRL fans, myself included are unhappy about American OW being treated as the minor leagues or retirement home of F1. I want to see more drivers that have not been turned down or fired by some F1 team taking up the scarce rides that are available. Some Champ Car fans increasingly will embrace any driver as long as it means the parking lot racing series still exists to spite TG.

[Kurt Cobain]

pt u happy about another F1 reject going to Champ Car.. I bet alot people will fill up Long Beach to see him race..

Hell I'm happy if it happens Chris and you would be positively wetting your pants should he go to the IRL.

[kikigirl]

Hell I'm happy if it happens Chris and you would be positively wetting your pants should he go to the IRL.

I just got here, saw Chris' post (not to mention a couple of others), and was about ready to say almost the same thing, amigo!
Great minds..........

[dreamracer]

I'd not be tossing about the 'wanna-be' label if my series had Marty Roth and Jon Herb.

LOL.

[dreamracer]

As Doc pointed out, a lot of IRL fans, myself included are unhappy about American OW being treated as the minor leagues or retirement home of F1. I want to see more drivers that have not been turned down or fired by some F1 team taking up the scarce rides that are available.

True. But it's never going to go away, unless the formula totally changes. That or the ladder to the top of AOW is rebuilt.

Indycar was getting pretty big britches in the early 90's and could have challenged F1 for drivers on a regular basis had the sport not been blown apart for all the reasons beaten to death in the past. But it's water under the bridge now.

Some Champ Car fans increasingly will embrace any driver as long as it means the parking lot racing series still exists to spite TG. [/QUOTE]

Be sure not to pull out the broad brush. Some CC fans have irrational thoughts. Just like some IRL fans. And some NASCAR fans and some ALMS fans and some F1 fans.

Some people certainly don't represent all people. Ergo, all people shouldn't be treated a certain way, due to some people's actions.

[JSR]

I'd like to see Klien in CC.

[rocketdoc]

pt u happy about another F1 reject going to Champ Car.. I bet alot people will fill up Long Beach to see him race..

Sure, something like all of the anonymous "rejects" that started the IRL.

Now you have CART II, is that what you really wanted?

Are you confident that all of those short track drivers that are cycling through the IRL are going to go to F1?

I think that Long Beach, which was coveted by Tony George, not that long ago, must have something going for it.

[rocketdoc]

I think if the prince of darkness drove in champcar we'de be hearing about what a swell guy he is.



That's right...kind of like those guys, and plenty of IRL fans aren't happy about it.

One exception, of course, would be TK, who earned his way all the way, though I don't think you'll find a lot of Dario fans here. Scheckter says he wants to be in the IRL, which I think is probably a far, far cry from how Klien feels about being farmed out to champcar purgatory.

Briscoe belongs in Grand American with his mentor Wayne Taylor. He's just plain bad news on an oval.

"I think if the prince of darkness drove in champcar we'de (sic) be hearing about what a swell guy he is."

Unfortunately, His Highness the Prince isn't driving these days, he passes his time by owning a series and a race track, and has a whole bunch of people swearing what a nice guy he is.

[NoSoupForYou]

As a CC fan, I can honestly say that it would be great to see a RHR, or another American get a shot because of the presumed interest it would generate.

However, there are many of us who follow CC because we like the product. I would not stop being a fan simply because of the drivers in the series. Like it or not, they have a large amount of talent. There have been few exceptions, but overall most have been deserving of their jobs. Racing is a lot more popular in many other countries, so that's where most of the talent is.

If the field has 20+ cars, I'm not going to abandon CC because Klien got the nod over RHR, or Fogarty, or someone else. I'm going to follow the series like I have been for many years.

I also wouldn't label anyone coming out of F1 a 'reject'. Was Massa a 'reject' before he started driving for Ferrari? Is JV a 'reject' because his results are lackluster? Is JPM a 'reject' because he was canned? It's hard to compare drivers since the performance level is so drastic from one team to the next. I wouldn't consider Klien a 'reject' based on his inability to beat DC. Last I checked, DC had 13 F1 victories and has finished in the top 5 in the championship 7 times.

[AlJRFAN]

Dude, I've got news for you....
Champcar, CART and for that matter the IRL too, has ALWAYS been "a" home for drivers on their way up to F1, or like Emo, Nigel, and many others, on their way down from F1.

It's been that way for nearly 30 years!

The only possible exception might be the Indy 500, but you already knew that.

Emo and Nigel were Champions and Race Winners, Has Klein even had a podium?

[Jim Wilke]

From Forix:

Born 7 Feb 1983
Age 23
Height 169 cm
Weight 68 kg

Active years 2004 - 2006
Best 15 (2005)
Presences 50
GP started 44

Best race classification 5 (1)
Best grid position 4 (1)
Points 14

[hdolan]

Another pizzing contest over who's series sucks the most...

[Doc Austin]

Some Champ Car fans increasingly will embrace any driver as long as it means the parking lot racing series still exists to spite TG.

I hear the prince of darkness is looking for a champcar drive. I'm sure he's a swell guy.

[tbyars]

Hell I'm happy if it happens Chris and you would be positively wetting your pants should he go to the IRL.

I could care less about Klien. I din't pay attention to him in F1, I won't pay attention to him in CCWS.

And should he ever go to the IRL, I wouldn't pay any attention to him there, either.

He is just not a driver I care anything about.

Wet my pants about him? Not even if he moved into our extra bedroom.