tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post7835966762102131722..comments2023-04-27T04:20:37.175-07:00Comments on My Name Is IRL: Stuntman to race IndyCars in 2009Iannuccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120192496901254768noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-90225143393614386992008-09-28T13:08:00.000-07:002008-09-28T13:08:00.000-07:00Since it's debating season, here's my rebuttal for...Since it's debating season, here's my rebuttal for my good friend who've I've known for over 10 years now.<BR/><BR/>1. Stanton has been driving at the top levels of NASCAR for over 10 years which not many people can say. He has placed in the top 20 against top teams that are spending 10 times the amount he is which is darned good in my view. There are a lot of drivers who have raced in Indy with less experience and Stanton is smart enough to know when to move out of the way and avoid a potential crash unlike some younger aggressive drivers who just want to win at all costs. Being a stuntman is not just dangerous, it takes an enormous amount of intelligence to avoid any mishaps so in that light, Stanton could be considered one of the safest drivers out there to save the team money when you consider the potential savings on equipment cost.<BR/><BR/>2. Stanton is actually pretty good on road courses. He was running second with a few laps to go in Mexico City a few years ago until he got bumped into. He also did well last year at Montreal finishing 17th. It may not be the same on a street course but I'm sure he'll be training for it with good experienced people advising him.<BR/><BR/>3. Stanton has really good relationships with his current sponsors. I've met them and they are really happy with what Stanton has given them which is lots of exposure outside of racing. He's done ABC's NASCAR in Primetime, NASCAR Angels, America's Next Top Model, ESPNs Bobsled Challenge, and tons of magazine and newspaper feature stories on an international level. His sponsor even developed a Japanese and Chinese website about him and he's got lots of fans overseas, I heard. With all the teams struggling for sponsors, I think Stanton is one guy that actually has the luxury to pick and choose the sponsors he wants to work because he wants a win-win situation and the sponsors really like that.<BR/><BR/>4. Paul Newman and his father are mentors and are a great influence on his life. Even though he knew the inevitable, he is torn apart by Paul's death. Based on Paul's influence, he and a friend even started an organization (4caring.org) to help people in need. I know he frequently visits children in hospitals to give them hope about their futures. And he doesn't have a camera following him around when he does this. He does it out of pure caring for others. And he probably did get offers from Paul to drive for him but knowing Stanton, he doesn't want handouts and would never even put himself in a position to be criticized for that or put pressure on those around him.<BR/><BR/>5. Until he tries driving Indy cars, we don't know how things translate. Sometimes it's easier to transition from one way to another than vice versa. I've got experience piloting helicopters and airplanes but it's a lot easier piloting an airplane with all the automated controls on it. There's so much more to think about and watch out for when I'm in an helicopter. Not saying it's the same but there is a lot more going on all around you in NASCAR than Indy. Plus a lot of other intangible factors you have to consider as well.<BR/><BR/>6. Again, I think stunt work is one of the most stressful jobs in the world and it takes a tremendous amount of intelligence and concentration when your life is on the line each time. That experience definitely helps when a split second can mean the difference between life and death at the Indy speeds.<BR/><BR/>7. There is so much more to a driver's success than just equipment and big teams usually put so much pressure on a driver to win, it becomes a job rather than a passion. Some drivers do well conforming to a job and others like Stanton truly love to drive with a passion. He uses almost all his money earned in stunt work and puts it into his cars and team. That's a very rare and admirable thing these days of big corporate sponsors demanding performance. Maybe Tony Stewart saw the same thing and just wanted to enjoy being a racer rather than a corporate toy.<BR/><BR/>I think we should celebrate Stanton joining the field of Indy drivers and the media attention and NASCAR fans he will bring. I'm already hearing from my NASCAR friends that they will all watch Indy races next season because of Stanton. It's exactly what this series needs; an underdog who strives to race for the love of racing and not big corporate paychecks. If you watched the movie 'Speed Racer,' Stanton personifies the 'Speed Racer' character. I respect your opinions but just wanted to give my viewpoint about a great guy with heart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-19742248072326435002008-09-28T08:42:00.000-07:002008-09-28T08:42:00.000-07:00Stanton is the next Marty Roth. The teams he has w...Stanton is the next Marty Roth. The teams he has worked with will tell you he is a hot head and blames everything on the team. No road course experience at all.<BR/> At least he will not have to compete with Marty for the last spot in the field , I hear from a Roth crew member that he is going Daytona Prototype racing next year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-84371928440648371042008-09-27T03:11:00.000-07:002008-09-27T03:11:00.000-07:00I think it's great ! new drivers to the series and...I think it's great ! new drivers to the series and if some Hollywood attention comes along that's great too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-81013359332862456592008-09-26T21:51:00.000-07:002008-09-26T21:51:00.000-07:00Looks like 'stanton barrett' didn't like my opinio...Looks like 'stanton barrett' didn't like my opinions too much. Don't know if it's him...but it seems like it, doesn't it?<BR/><BR/>http://mvn.com/irl/2008/09/25/this-aint-no-stunt-stanton-barrett-trades-in-stock-cars-for-indycar/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-76530421368960228552008-09-26T15:58:00.000-07:002008-09-26T15:58:00.000-07:00Stanton is a nice guy but, after watching him in N...Stanton is a nice guy but, after watching him in NASCAR, my first thought when I saw this press release was, "The hell?!?!"<BR/><BR/>It'll be Milka & Marty all over again.Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04476944589668626586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-71262046594491737732008-09-26T11:23:00.000-07:002008-09-26T11:23:00.000-07:00I noticed he did stunt work in "The Nutty Professo...I noticed he did stunt work in "The Nutty Professor". Does he really need to prove himself? Isn't that enough for you people?Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04298208634838532121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-51343637737902405282008-09-26T11:20:00.000-07:002008-09-26T11:20:00.000-07:00Let’s get this straight: Mr Barrett is saying that...<I><BR/>Let’s get this straight: Mr Barrett is saying that his qualifications for being an IndyCar driver are (a) that he’s the 23rd best driver in the 2nd best stock car division.</I><BR/><BR/>And this is different from Target Chip Ganassi Racing putting the 46th best driver in NASCAR's permier stock car division and the <B>29th</B> best driver in their 2nd best stock car division in a Dallara how? <BR/><BR/>:^P<BR/><BR/><I>This means his areas of expertise would include things like driving cars into other cars, driving cars into things other than cars, and driving cars very fast into cars and things other than cars. Smells like the next Paul Tracy to me, folks.</I><BR/><BR/>Meh, Paul Tracy <I>wishes</I> he could get a full season ride to be his old crazy self. Sounds more like a typical race weekend for EJ "No Fear" Viso.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25142730.post-1804640535441668672008-09-26T10:34:00.000-07:002008-09-26T10:34:00.000-07:00"He will have to get used to driving without fende...<B><I>"He will have to get used to driving without fenders or a roof, but his stunt driving experience should suit him well with the full fields in the IndyCars Series."</I></B><BR/><BR/>I am a Christian woman and I choose not to swear in my everyday life. But THIS made me think "What the HELL does THAT mean?!"<BR/><BR/>;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com