[openwheelKT]

Originally Posted by Hawker Honda will be making HUGE gains in performance in 2009. With the hiring of Ross Brawn as the new Team Principal late last winter, the Honda team will be a major player in the coming years. Mark my words. Ross Brawn, for those of you who do not know, was the architect of Michael Schumacher's success at Benneton and Ferrari. Reubens is in the twilight of his career, he is consistantly outperformed by his teammate, Jenson Button. There isn't a driver on earth who will jump right into a Ferrari, BMW, McLaren or Renault seat without paying their dues first. Or doing like Lewis Hamilton, Nelson Piquet or Robert Kubica and kick ass in GP2 for a season or two, even then, they'll be relegated to the 2nd car.

I'll believe it when I see it. Every year they say they are going to be improved. I haven't see it yet. And yes, I know who he is and what he's done, but I still won't believe it until I see it. Ferrari was in bad shape when he came in, but not like this team.

I know how F1 works. My point is he better be prepared to run at the back because that's what going to happen. His old man went over there and came back quickly. He didn't get much support over there so that's my point. You don't get support, you don't move up and on. Be careful what you wish for is all I'm saying.

[Ovalmeister]

Originally Posted by openwheelKT Be careful what you wish for is all I'm saying.

That's excellent advice right there. He should probably master the Indycars first. Did anyone catch the interview with Marco after he crashed in Japan? When asked what happened he stated, "I tried to take advantage of the cold tires to gain some positions and it got away from me".
Even my 16 year old daughter (who loves Marco) looked at me puzzled and said, "aren't you supposed to take it easy on cold tires?"
Sometimes I'm not so sure what goes on in Marco's head. I think F1, at this point in his career, could be fatal. Just one dude's opinion.
David.

[Hawker]

[QUOTE=Ovalmeister;36797]Even my 16 year old daughter (who loves Marco) looked at me puzzled and said, "aren't you supposed to take it easy on cold tires?"
QUOTE]

Educate her on Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya...

[Drew]

Originally Posted by Hawker Speaking of cold tires.... Beginning next year, there will be no more tire warmers being used in F1. Already this year, the loss of traction control has really made the racing a lot more exciting and I even had to laugh when Bob Varsha made a comparison to Fernando Alonso and Steve Kinser when he was sliding through a corner with the left fron tire off the ground. Other new rules for 2009..... Slicks will be back. They are also taking away 50% of their downforce.

All that's left then is to take away the other 50% of downforce, remove the mirrors, radios, and telemetry....oh, and get rid of the pavement too. :applaud: The overpaid fashion models in F1 are billed as the best racecar drivers in the world but personally, I don't believe they could carry the helmet bag of many of our current and former open wheel stars. With a few more practice laps under his belt I do believe Jeff Gordon could've competitively run the USGP.

[Hawker]

Originally Posted by Drew All that's left then is to take away the other 50% of downforce, remove the mirrors, radios, and telemetry....oh, and get rid of the pavement too. :applaud: The overpaid fashion models in F1 are billed as the best racecar drivers in the world but personally, I don't believe they could carry the helmet bag of many of our current and former open wheel stars. With a few more practice laps under his belt I do believe Jeff Gordon could've competitively run the USGP.

It's one thing to be fast when you're the only car on the track for just a few laps. Put 21 more out there and push as hard as they do for 60 laps and I'll be impressed.

I'm not saying he couldn't do it, but just and I am sure that JPM or Shumacher could run up fron in a sprint car (winged on nonwinged), it's going to take time.

Look at JPM at the prelude, he had never even SEEN a dirt track OR a late model until he set foot on Eldora. But he took to it like a duck to water.

[thebus79h]

I do think KT hit it on the head, be careful what you wish for, but for Marco, it's his time, he'd be stupid not to go for it. Everyone knows that it's a garbage team, and everyone in F1 knows it's a garbage team. Remember when Alonso drove for Minardi? Now where is he, a two time champion. But Marco has to go now, or the time will pass him, becuase I really don't see him winning the 500, or the Indycar title, so he better leave.

Now I will say this, now that they have started to take some of the control out of the car, look at what's happened. We're seeing the actual drivers emerge. It's still a money game, it always has and it always will be, that's not going to change. But the racing has gotten a lot better. Cars are sliding around all over the place, and it's a freakin blast to watch Lewis Hamilton run the dog-piss out of that car burning the tires off it to get ahead. The racing has been good this season, and will only get better, and the real drivers will come forward. Do I think Marco could be the savior for Honda, hell no, but do I think he could compete with Jenson Button, absolutely.

[1955indy]

I don't want to see him go but if he does I glad it's not Napcar.

[Seadog]

If Marco goes "over there", I hope he has a career like his grandfather did in F1.:thumb I also hope his career is not like his father's was in F1.:thumbsdown:

[Larryoracing]

I was always inpressed by world champions and in this day and age, what happens in the world reflects how Americans and the World see us...ie. Americans.

If your goal is to be the best in the World then taking the opportunity
when it awaits you is a must. Whether you are ready for it or not, like
when a young soldier barely out of the crib, with really very little
experience in life is asked to sacrifice his life and go to war for the common good of his country and hopefully the world, Marco must
go, brave the storm and hopefully find victory at the end of the the day.

Winning is not about passing the checkered flag in first place. It's about how you accepts challenges in life, when you are not ready for it,
against all the odds with very little chance of success.

In the final analysis we will always cherish the Andrettis not for thier
accomplishments in racing, but that they represented America with
thier best efforts.

We will always be proud of these young men and old, for in them
we see a little bit of ourselves.

Larry "O":thumb

Forget Marco! Did anyone else happen to see Darren Clayton's blog a couple of weeks ago? He said his ultimate goal was "to represent the United States in the world's premier form of motorsports; Formula 1." I say we need to all pitch in and make this happen. A true blue dirt-tracker in F1! Git er done! :greenflag: