http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/champcar/36130/
With only 10 drivers confirmed as Champ Car’s season opener looms, one would think series veteran and race winner Nelson Philippe would be a shoe-in to land a ride for 2007.
"As much as I want to race in the Champ Car series, I am expected to bring money and I'm not going to do that,” he told autosport.com. “I don't have a cent to bring.”
Originally Posted by Mack Too
for the true CCWS fans, I'm sorry for your loss, for the many in-fighters, you weren't happy before anyway.
So...when Kevin tells us that all teams are going to be fully funded this year, what he really means is that all teams are going to be fully funded by their drivers who pay for the privelege of driving in his series. If he's not good enough for a ride in CC on his own merit what the heck does he think the F1 bosses are going to think?
For the record, I never had a problem with CART in 1995. Its when they turned beligerant twards IMS and their fans for supporting the IRL that turned me off them.
The ChampCar site had this to say just yesterday:
"Philippe is currently in negotiations with Champ Car teams in the hope of sealing a deal before the Champ Car World Series opening round at Las Vegas on April 6-8."
Ironically, they had just written a piece on Nelson. Maybe this is part of Nelson's negotiating.
I'd almost bet he'll be a Flavio driver by the end of the year.
Nelson has earned a good drive.
That wouldn't kill me. I like the guy. It would be champcar's loss, but what are they doing to keep him? Nelson has to go where he's wanted and where he can earn a buck.Originally Posted by drummer
"Is that my *** that I smell burning?" ... Helmet Stogie from "Death spasms of the Mabuchi"
This is looking like a Petty Driving Experience. You bring the money, we let you think you are racing.
Appears cars won't be the problem for the first , but the throttle, steering wheel interconnect will be.
"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved
body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting
"...holy $^!+...what a ride!"
>
Just exactly what has he done to earn a good drive?
You should avoid making yourself too clear even in your explanations -
Baltasar Gracian, Spanish philosopher
A very valid point
I must admit that when he came in to the series at 17, I thought it was totally ridiculous...especially with his family footing the bill. The kid has progressed steadily though and is as "deserving" of a ride as anyone else in the series who is not a former champion or multiple race winner.
"IRL is better at everything except selling themselves." -- Jennifer Floyd Engel, ESPN/103.3 FM
A very valid point
In 2006, Nelson finished 5th once, 4th twice, had three podium finishes, including a win at Australia.
All in an underfunded car.
He just turned 20.
Doc is right. I'd say he has a little potential. Put him in a funded car and see what he can do.
"This is looking like a Petty Driving Experience."
You been around Indy in May lately?
In a field lacking talent and with only 16-17 other cars around him..
In 2006, Nelson finished 5th once, 4th twice, had three podium finishes, including a win at Australia.
All in an underfunded car.
He just turned 20.
Doc is right. I'd say he has a little potential. Put him in a funded car and see what he can do.
The Petty Driving Experience is an apt comparison.
Champ Car owns the cars, supplies the engines, rents the tracks and waits for drivers to arrive with enough money to race. Depending on the size of their budget, drivers can opt for a single event or the whole season. The whole series is arranged like a club series Arrive and Drive program where the driver shows up with enough cash and someone else supplies the car and team, talent is optional.
Won a race and showed steady improvement. Of course, we can always replace him with one of those Zwolt type fellows.
The "lacking in talent" part is your opinion.
My opinion is that your means of measure is a biased, reactionary, and poorly thought one.
He raced against who was there in the series. He raced against the cars that were present. He had no choice i nwho he competed against. He improved and he won.
This isn't a discussion about him being considered for an F1 drive. This is about him being put in a paid for car (i.e. a position to win), in the series that he already races in.
I sat with him before, and chatted. He's a funny, charismatic, good, bright kid... and he apprently has some talent behind the wheel.
Just like those who like to slam drivers like Eddie Cheever, huh?
Or Buddy Lazier.
That's looking more and more likely, in the rather comedic musical chairs of drivers that CC management seems to think doesn't affect their continuity and standing in the racing community.
That wouldn't be me.
I didn't mean to infer that it was you......sorry if you took it that way.
That wouldn't be me.
Just trying to make a point.
as long as he's not in indycars, im happy.
That's a very expensive glass of Chardonnay you're not drinking.
Oh, come on. I'de rather have him that Tracy.
I guess the tone of your post led me to believe that. I think Buddy never got a fair shake. Anybody who straps in with a broken back, much less wins the Indy 500.... has more than my respect. Cheers.
Last edited by dreamracer; 03-20-2007 at 02:07 PM.
I guess appealing to race fans isn't in this equation.
Note of course that "appealing to race fans" means appealing to sponsors.
Felix Sabates said it well, American fans like hamburger eaters, not wine and cheese eaters.
Funny thing about Nelson, he's as appealing a personality as you can find.
He's confident, a little flamboyant, comfortable as a guy (enough to have a pink helmet)
He loves the babes in the pitlane and(although he's now seeing a model steady now).
He's more interesting as a personality than most drivers, actually. Sort of the James Hunt type.
He just has an accent.
So does Ward Burton.
However, Nelson is easier to understand.
I am rather perplexed because wasn't Nelson bringing in family $ all this time?
What happened? Did the "family well" run dry?
OTOH, you can't blame him for the attitude.
ROTFLMAOSo does Ward Burton.
Original Autosport story.......
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57501
His funding was from Wellbox (a tissue massage machine used in fybromyalgia treatment). A family related company (I think there's a connection between Louis-Paul Guitay and Nelson's mom, but I'm not certain), but not just a "front" for a pay drive.
Great quotes in that article. Thanks for the link.
"I'm looking at every top open wheel racing series at the moment, but I'm also looking at what my options are in V8 Supercars - hey, I might even get paid to race in that! - ALMS, and also the Le Mans 24 Hours.
"I want to be supportive of Champ Cars," Philippe continued. "I believe it is the best series in the world for racing, but I don't want to be expected to bring money each time. And how can you find a sponsor who wants to put $2m into a series that hasn't had a television profile for the last six years?
"So I decided it's time to take my destiny in my own hands. I don't think I'm a superstar or anything like that, but I'm not going to pay to drive. I want to have a drive on merit and talent."
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