tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post6489504923622158028..comments2023-04-27T04:20:37.175-07:00Comments on My Name Is IRL: Plan B for PenskeIannuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120192496901254768noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-32136162530017394462008-11-17T18:03:00.000-07:002008-11-17T18:03:00.000-07:00Jeff,Throwing myself into many things outside the ...Jeff,<BR/><BR/>Throwing myself into many things outside the net. It seems that when one graduates college one winds up with an abudnance of free time. Is almost thirty too old to take up skateboarding...I'll get back to you.The American Mutthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01396701492082850805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-76693957248745851102008-11-17T17:11:00.000-07:002008-11-17T17:11:00.000-07:00Bourdais isn't going back to the US to race unless...Bourdais isn't going back to the US to race unless he's in a Peugeot for Sebring and Petit.<BR/><BR/>Personally I think he'll get another season (half season?) at Toro Rosso before going to Peugeot.<BR/><BR/><BR/>I vote RHR for the Penske seat!Pat Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16969286427943489462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-10832876574951559342008-11-17T16:29:00.000-07:002008-11-17T16:29:00.000-07:00*I* *HATE* *THIS* *!* *!* *!* *!**I* *HATE* *THIS* *!* *!* *!* *!*Jennifer Coomerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15144695641505947308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-20868259308388201082008-11-17T14:02:00.000-07:002008-11-17T14:02:00.000-07:00I still think that some time in January, Helio is ...I still think that some time in January, Helio is going to cut a deal that involves a ton of fines, and 30 days in jail to be served prior to March 1, and that stipulates that he can remain and work in the US. The tricky part is that if Penske has been forced to find an alternate by that point, Helio becomes an intriguing last-minute free agent.Fred Hurleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379706257551429697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-2320705067633042942008-11-17T13:51:00.000-07:002008-11-17T13:51:00.000-07:00My inner Donald Davidson has to point out that the...My inner Donald Davidson has to point out that the number "3" has won the Indy 500 more times (10) than any other number. I'm certain that's a curse Penske can live with.Iannuccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15120192496901254768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-67220100560156336582008-11-17T12:58:00.000-07:002008-11-17T12:58:00.000-07:00A few thoughts (not that anybody asked):1) There's...A few thoughts (not that anybody asked):<BR/><BR/>1) There's no such thing as listening to "too many Live Fast Podcasts". I'd listen to one every three or four days if I could. Get on that, fellas. ;)<BR/><BR/>2) Sam really ought to come back. The stats show that he had 3 top-20 finishes in 34 starts in Cup this year, with a best finish of 13th at the semi-chaotic Coke 600 (plus two races late in the season where he DNQ'd). That's not even a mediocre season, even by rookie standards. True, he's not very good on the road courses, but if he knew where his bread is most likely to get buttered (yuck, bad metaphor there), he'd be calling Roger right now in order to start testing the IndyCar again.<BR/><BR/>3) Rubens is an interesting idea, as he's had a long time personal sponsorship deal with Phillip Morris. In his junior formula days and up until he started driving for Stewart (that's Jackie, not Tony), he always had an extra large Marlboro patch on the back of his firesuits.<BR/><BR/>4) I'm not so sure that Toro Rosso is going to give SeaBass another go next year. They've got a terrible tendency already to get rid of guys when they're just coming up to speed (see Luizzi and Mr. Speed himself).<BR/><BR/>5) As much fun as it'd be to see either of those last two guys in the #3, I think it'll be RHR. He had a great season in sub-Big 3 equipment this year, he's young and marketable and, best of all, Roger could probably wrap him up on a long term contract for a fraction of the cost of a Rubens or a Bourdais.<BR/><BR/>6) Last one, I swear. Anybody else think that maybe the #3 Penske car has a bit of a curse on it? I believe that Gonzalo Rodriguez died in that car, it was the car that Greg Moore was slated to drive, and now Helio's "problems"? I just know that if Roger called me to drive that car (believe me, I'm waiting by the phone), I might consider trying to convince him to trade numbers with Panther or something.The SpeedGeekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03515637541673575394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-68743795762321209402008-11-17T12:04:00.000-07:002008-11-17T12:04:00.000-07:00I'm putting my money on Rubens in the #3 in '09. ...I'm putting my money on Rubens in the #3 in '09. I know in some snow covered race track Roger is getting ready to test him and take Honda's money before he jumps ship in 2010 with a Penske Porsche IRL deal. <BR/><BR/>Hey it's the time of year to wish for Tiny Tim to toss away his crutches and walk...isn't?<BR/><BR/>Rubens #3 in '09Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-54001085647344125712008-11-17T11:17:00.000-07:002008-11-17T11:17:00.000-07:00*wipes away a manly tear at that mention**wipes away a manly tear at that mention*Johnnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654832236860079943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-39588717802211993812008-11-17T11:10:00.001-07:002008-11-17T11:10:00.001-07:00Realistically, if Penske has to replace Helio with...Realistically, if Penske has to replace Helio with another driver before, say, Christmas, it's likely to be Hunter-Reay, Wilson, Power, or maybe Servia. He needs someone familiar with IndyCar equipment, someone who can win on a road course, and someone with enough savvy on ovals to be competitive, and potentially win Indy if circumstances dictate. I think SeaBass is actually an interesting option, and one that most people have ignored, because it's too easy to assume that if he comes back, it'll be with Newman Haas. That said, I really do think Bourdais gets one more shot in F1, and unless it's with Force India, he'll take it.<BR/><BR/>One X-Factor: If Penske thinks Helio will likely only miss 2009 (say he has reason to believe there will be minimal jail time at worst, and Helio will be allowed to remain in the US), then he might go with someone like Junqueira or Servia for the year. Neither is likely a long-term answer in the #3, but both would have the car competitive, and both would be up to speed very quickly.<BR/><BR/>So you heard it here first - Junqueira in the #3 Penske at St. Pete!Fred Hurleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379706257551429697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-13512405532947090322008-11-17T11:10:00.000-07:002008-11-17T11:10:00.000-07:00I understand that Troy Bayliss is available and en...I understand that Troy Bayliss is available and enjoyes the US.<BR/><BR/>52 wins and 94 podiums in 150 starts, could be goodTheDukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01666911644545624882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-3540256379618000862008-11-17T10:48:00.000-07:002008-11-17T10:48:00.000-07:00Mutt? Where ya been!Mutt? Where ya been!Iannuccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15120192496901254768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-15258051171859337012008-11-17T10:45:00.000-07:002008-11-17T10:45:00.000-07:00No offense to the 07 talking point, but Sam can't ...No offense to the 07 talking point, but Sam can't turn right. He's terrible. Take away his podium (which he got by a dirty pass), and the mans average finish on twisties is roughly the same as it was the year before. You can watch him struggle in the tin tops or struggle on the roads, but either way you'd be watching Sam struggle.The American Mutthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01396701492082850805noreply@blogger.com