Sorry FishHeads, these are her own words in the New York Times.
While her teammate, Buddy Rice, has rallied recently — posting five top 10 finishes in his past six starts — Fisher has continued a season-long slide. She has only two top 10s and has finished 15th or 16th in her past five races.What a major bummer. It's not a total surprise, but it still seems noteworthy that despite running slower than all the other regulars she managed to stay accident free until Michigan. The talent to drive is obviously there, but for whatever reason her car never seems to be fast enough compared to her teammate. Or pretty much anyone else not named Milka or Marty.
Her struggles have her auditioning for a job again. Fisher said the team owner Dennis Reinbold will return to a one-car team next year, leaving her future as murky now as it was a year ago.
“We’ve got to have something exciting because otherwise you can’t sell what we did this year,” she said. “I’m working on creating that and working towards that. We’ll just have to see what happens.” (MORE from the New York Times)
The league can survive without her, but it's clearly stronger with Fisher in a competitive car. Her popularity is still a trememndous asset to both her and the IndyCar series. Trust me, I know - I just write the word "Fisher" in an article and my site hits double.
On the positive side:
The strain of the season, however, has not hurt her relationship with her crew chief, Andy O’Gara. The two plan to marry in Indianapolis next month. Fisher called the wedding “the bright light at the end of the tunnel” in an otherwise disappointing season. She came to Kentucky Speedway armed with invitations and laughed about a guest list that is nearing 600.
Hearing there's a full time, 100% funded and winnable World of Outlaws Sprint Car ready for her *if* she wants it. As much as I'd like to see her win, selfishly I'd still like to see her in Indy Car. She just ups the classy.
Bummer.. she's a class act, and i agree, she "ups the classy" for sure.
I think Fisher's story will be written with the same lines over and over again...if she had a better car, if she had a better team, if she had a better...
Shame. The IRL was always more interesting with her than without her.
Too bad. D&R's performance this year has been hard to figure, as they obviously have put some engineering in place to improve by hiring the Fernandez guys, but some races they've looked lost and others Buddy has looked pretty great.
I just hate that the IRL is once again regressing to the haves and have nots; at times this season it has looked like other teams had a chance (Simmons and Sharp at Texas, Buddy at the Glen, Schekter last week in Michigan) but it is becoming pretty obvious down the stretch that a win isn't going to happen...
I'm a mixed bag on this one. She's considerably more pleasent in front of the camera then most of the other drivers, but I've lost faith in her as a driver. I know that means most will hate me, but can anyone think of a good reason that even with that car she isn't competing for 12th or 11th. I'm realistic enough to know it'd be hard to crack the top ten in it, but she should be competitive with the likes of Kosuke and Quatro.
One good reason: Her cars are pigs. Heard it a bunch of times, "DRR cars look slow." Buddy hasn't lit the world on fire in the DRR ride. Plus, Sarah brings the sponsorship. I'd LOVE to see her winning in the World of Outlaws, Johnny. Better than finishing minus 2 laps in the IRL.
I like both Rice and Fisher and I want to see them both. I'd get rid of some other dead weight on the track.
On the other hand, being released by D&R also means that she is free to pursue other options, like maybe a better team will want to replace a departing driver.
She does have the reputation of a solid and reliable driver who finishes races even if laps down. Further, she is not one to have hissy fits like Princess Sparkle Pony.....
Let's see what the off-season brings.
I'd love to see Sarah in a "100% funded and winnable World of Outlaws sprint car" as the first time I ever saw Sarah race was in a sprint car in Georgia.