What I don't understand is why the American continents don't produce better racers

I would be overjoyed if they produced someone the N and S continents can get behind but they frequently fail to live up to their promise.

That's a reason I hope BS gets a go as it would be great to have an American continent representitive do well.

When a nation can think that round and round we go NASACAR is great racing, there is no other explanation needed. Their drivers probably think an S-bend is a new kind of hotdog.

That's a bit harsh on Rubens and Felipe! http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Felipe and Rubens are good drivers, however, going back in time, we haven't got anything to speak of until JPM and the last WDC was Ayrton.

OK, Brazil has a steller period from 70 - 90 but apart from that, the 2 continents have barely scratched the surface.

Some die hards still wax lyrical about JV but Canada have the same amount of WDC as New Zealand.

The US has won 2 championships but that's the same as Spain, less than Italy or half what Austria and France have each won.

OK, we have the legendary Fangio and what an achievement one peoson has had but really, if you take Argentina and Brazil out of it, there is nothing.

Yes now that CART has died a death, and Indycar is pritty much about going around in circules. I just dont see where the next good single seater American driver will come from.
Ok Danica PAtrick has some experiense of corners, from racing in CART, but really will she be any good in F1.

Hello, I'm from the US/North America. The reason you no longer see great open-wheel drivers coming from this part of the world is because a driver needs to be talented AND have a wealthy family. Rich families in america produce no talent, mostly idiots, or if they do have talent they never realize it because they drive luxury trucks at 60mph on the superslab.

Those of us who have talent and dedication but aren't rich come up slowly through the sports car ranks.

I think its time for Bourdais to get the chop-he hasnt been good enough. However, I hope he gets a indycar seat as im sure he'll be great there.

Back on topic. I feel kinda bad for Bourdais but he just hasn't shown a flash that he needs to. He seems stuck in the style of his old Lola and the STR is just the wrong car for him. Not that I want to make excuses though, Alonso for instance would be fast in any of the cars (well mabey not FI...)

Will he. He came from CART they have corners, will he adapt to regular ovels. Would like to think he would.
My bet would be a regular drive with Peugeot, in the LMS. He did not do to bad in Lemans last year.

I don't know, I think you're stretching your argument excluding certain decades and countries now Knock http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif I'm sure if you excluded half of Europe you'd find European performances quite unimpressive too http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

If you add up Fangio, Fittipaldi, Piquet, Senna, Massa, Barrichello, JPM, and I'm sure a few other race winners who I can't think of right now, I would say South America has produced a great crop of drivers from what is not a particularly rich continent.

With you all the way on North America of course.

Danica never raced in CART (or Champ Car), she raced Atlantics and then went straight to Indycar with Bobby Rahal's team. Catherine Legge did Champ Car after driving Atlantics (with a much better record than Danica it must be said, Catherine won races in Atlantic, something Danica didnt do) but was never really in a position to fight an awful lot in Champ Car. She now drives in DTM for Audi.

Also i'd contest that Indycar is "about going around in circles" as since the unification the calendar has become much more balanced between road courses and ovals, 7 of the 17 rounds are now on road / street courses, so road racing expertise is becoming more important all the time. Who knows, maybe Indycar will completely abandon the 1.5 mile NASCAR cookie cutter courses, stick to the big super speedways and 1 mile ovals which always gave Indycar it's flavour back in the 80s and 90s and expand the road course schedule, then once again it will become a viable training ground for F1 drivers.

Right. But they'll need new cars to go along with the new schedule. I was so disappointed that the Panoz DP-1 never got to develop and mature. Put one of those next to a current Indy Car and try not to shake your head in disappointment.

That just about sums it up. We'll wait to see if Pantano can do better - he isn't against the best team mate in ability - not as if he was performing against Vettel.

would like to see toro rosso go back to junior team

http://www.redbull-juniorteam.com/

Brendon HARTLEY has a super licence
Jaime ALGUERSUARI has a super licence

Answer "Asscar" and fritos and Scott's turf builder etc.

He wasn't in CART, he was in Champ Car. CC was a spec series created out of the ashes of CART's bankruptcy. His 4 championships came from driving for the best car in a series that lacked quality teams and drivers. If he had driven in CART in the 90's I don't think he would've won 4 championships. I have my doubts that he would have won any.

They won't fire him. Especially with a potentially race-winning car later on in the year. They'd be stupid to give the car to someone who will have to learn how to drive it in the course of a GP weekend.

Having said that, I am a fan of Pantano. I think it would be good for him to get a chance next year with one of the new teams. That way he could maybe be a number one driver.

I like Bourdais but he doesn't seem to gel with anything past the Toro Rosso at the first few races of last year, all updates just haven't worked for him in comparison to his teammates. He is a very good driver but has possibly spent a bit too long in ChampCar, especially as it was in its latter years.

I'm also a fan of Pantano, but I don't really see him as a long-term solution either. It was always going to be hard for him to get back into F1 given his age and the fact he's been at the same level for 8 years.

A fairer way to look at this is F1 wins by country/continent. S America has a very impressive 144 victories(Brazil 99, Argentina 38, Columbia 7) from a relatively poor region. N America has 41 wins (US 22, Can 17, Mex 2). Canada's record, all Villeneuve of course, puts it ahead of some European countries Sweden ( 12) and Switzerland (7). The reason more US drivers do not appear in F1 is simply the attraction of NASCAR. Most of the talented drivers are diverted to sedan racing, that's where the sponsorship is and the fan interest. You have to be dedicated and/or rich to work your way up through the Formula Series and Sports Cars.