The Kansas City Star has what would normally be considered a “puff piece” on Dan Wheldon, who won the IndyCar series event at Kansas Speedway in ‘07 and ’08. And while “puff pieces” are normally designed for people who don’t follow racing, this one might be telling something to those of us who actually know a bit about Dan’s career.

First though, note this excerpt in Robin Miller’s mailbag last week.

Q: Who will be the first driver in the IZOD IndyCar Series to be released from their current team and be replaced?
Chris Fiegler, Latham,NY

RM: I'd bet on Graham Rahal for Dan Wheldon if the contracts weren't so binding.

Of course this is taken with a grain of salt because Robin says “Graham” about every third word out of his mouth. But there is truth in the fact that Wheldon has been a highly paid driver and Panther took him on with the expectation he would be able to do win more races than the winless Vitor Meira. But after 21 races the Panther/Wheldon relationship has resulted in zero wins and, oh, notice how Dario Franchitti has taken Dan’s old ride to the ’09 series championship.

Which brings us to the curiously-titled article There’s an “I” in Wheldon’s Panther Racing Team, which features quotes by Wheldon about liking the responsibility of driving for a one-car team. Pretty much the same stuff he’s been saying since he signed with Panther, which means that’s not the interesting part. Not that would be the other quotes about Dan, which are by ...Scott Goodyear? Yes, Scott Goodyear, who is most definitely not Panther co-owner John Barnes or anyone else affiliated with the team.

It’s not so much that Goodyear had anything interesting to say, but rather that he – a former Panther driver himself – would be the only other person sourced for this kind of story. Press releases aside, I don’t remember the last time the usually talkative Barnes had anything to publicly say about his driver. He’s always talking about the National Guard sponsorship or the league officials or the 2012 chassis, but his current driver? Insert the sound of crickets chirping.

Maybe I’m wrong and maybe there’s no “there” there in all of this, but it sure seems like this summer is going to be awfully frosty in the Panther Racing garage between Wheldon and everyone else. Maybe this could all change if some sort of miracle happens and Wheldon can give Panther their first win since 2005, like say at Kansas this week, or even at Indy where Wheldon has also won and Panther has finished 2nd the last two years.

But more than likely the winless streak continues, which would almost certainly leave Dan pounding the pavement for a new ride next year. Who would be willing to pay him is anyone’s guess, it does bear noting that his reputation as an “oval specialist” seems a bit overblown. Sure, Dan hasn’t been on a podium for a course with right turns in quite a while, but in 4 non-ovals this year he’s finished between 5th and 11th in three of them - the lone exception being when his Dallara went all “Christine” in St Pete. Wheldon isn’t a threat to win on a road or street course, but if he’s finishing in the top half nearly every week then he’s certainly showing he still belongs in the series.

But it’s the former part of that description – the “isn’t a threat to win” clause – that seems to carry a lot of weight against potential employment for Wheldon. As Robin noted this week "I think you should make as many races this season as possible because Wheldon would appear to be an endangered species." (And yes, I just quoted Robin Miller twice in a single post. Cats and dogs living together.)

I sure hope he's not an "endangered species" because as a fan I like Dan even with the strangely unsettling teeth, because he’s got healthy doses of personality and talent. And I’ve watched the IRL long enough to remember he’s got gargantuan boulders in the nether reaches of his firesuit. And quite frankly, I’m not ready to see him leave the IRL for ...bobsledding?



Photo: TrackSide Online

As Dale noted a few weeks ago, it's that special time of year for drivers to start shuffling around and making plans for next season. Looking to 2010 the uncertainty is even swirling around a former series champion like Dan Wheldon, who according to random speculation has already worn out his welcome with Panther Racing in his first season. A driver with as many wins as Dan came at a steep price for Panther, but aside from a 2nd place finish at Indy (and in truth, if you're going to have one podium finish the money involved makes that the place to get it) there hasn't been a lot of Return On Investment in the Wheldon contract other than that chortle-inducing "Do you think I'm your mother!" commercial.

Panther's sponsorship arrangements with the U.S. National Guard and others put them in a rare position of being able to actually select a driver entirely on merit, and presumably with Wheldon they thought they were getting the best available driver. He was certainly the one with the most wins available. However, with the IndyCar series schedule taking a right turn towards a majority of road and street courses, Dan's actual value as a driver - while still above average - looks to have declined almost as much as the Nielsen ratings for IndyCar races.

This is not meant as any offense to Dan who over the years has demonstrated ample skill and tire-thumping bravery, nor to Panther Racing who have made a successful career out of doing more with less, but any honest assessment can see this relationship ain't working for either of them. When the winless Vitor Meira years are looked upon as the good 'ol days you know the results are not meeting mutual expectations.

They don't ask me about these things, but if Panther Racing is going to continue with their National Guard sponsorship I'd like to suggest they take a long look at finding a talented young American to drive that car. Not to open a up a xenophobic can of worms here, but if the sponsor is a branch of the American military service it can come across as just a bit odd to ask a non-citizen to represent them. It's not inherently wrong, but it does run the risk of confusing the marketing message a touch.

So which young American does your humble host think Panther should zero in on for 2010? Well, Graham Rahal appears to have a good thing going with N/H/L, Marco Andretti probably wouldn't leave the family business just yet, Ryan Hunter-Reay is still under contract with Vision Racing, Ed Carpenter is...not going anywhere, and Danica Patrick is WAY outta their price range. Fortunately, there is one young American who's smart, personable, immensely talented on both road and street courses, and fits the National Guard demographic. He's even got an all-American name like "J.R.".


Oh, and his current team busts out this little "Captain America" doll after he wins.

Yes, I'm talking about the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights champion, JR Hildebrand, who just became the first American to win that series title in 7 years. Again, I have nothing against foreign drivers (foreign drivers are FUN-tastic!), but this sponsorship and this team - who once featured an enormous American flag on their IndyCar - seem to be a little more focused on their American-ness than most others. If they can successfully develop a guy like Sam Hornish Jr into an ICS champion then they could do wonders developing the skills of JR, who might already a better road racer than Sam has ever been.

Just sayin' some things make too much sense. Quite frankly, Hildebrand looks like a special driver who shouldn't have to suffer the same career stall as many other former FIL champions. And as for Wheldon, I suppose in a perfect world he'd get back together with Tony Kanaan at AGR someday. But this is quite the imperfect world, is isn't it?

(Photo: TrackSide Online)

For the second time in as many seasons, Dan Wheldon may be putting his driving talents, glistening teeth and jaunty matching shoes on the open market. Unfortunately for Wheldon, that market is not exactly bustling as teams look to replace sponsors and shed expensive salaries.

Wheldon, seventh place in the IndyCar series points race heading into Kentucky, appears to be well down the road to a divorce from the mercurial John Barnes and Panther Racing. In the off-season, Barnes made heads wag in the paddock when he announced a multi-year agreement with Wheldon to pilot the National Guard car. Wheldon had just been released from a deal with Chip Ganassi Racing that was said to be in the $3 million per season range and was thought to be seeking a similar arrangement at the time, with insiders wondering exactly who Panther was bidding against for Wheldon's services.

“It’s hard to describe the level of excitement and emotions all of us at Panther have knowing that Dan has come back to drive for us,” team Managing Partner and CEO John Barnes said. “I remember watching him drive for the first time in the Indy Lights series years ago, and I knew he was going to be a special talent. Since then he’s become one of the best open-wheel drivers in the world, and for him to make his return to our team at the height of his racing career is a tremendous compliment to our team. I know he’s excited about getting into the No. 4 car for the first time and we’ve got a tremendous future ahead of us.”

That excitement has apparently lasted all of 10 races, as Barnes has soured on the the expensive English free agent and has told him to look elsewhere for a 2010 ride. The relationship peaked with the second place finish at Indy in May.

Speed's Robin Miller reported that financial considerations are involved in the issue in his weekly mailbag Q&A segment.

(Wheldon's) agents were in Toronto and there's been talk of missed payments and some heated conversations so I'd say he's out of that ride regardless of what happens in the next couple months."

Behind the scenes, the Ganassi operation was critical of Wheldon after his departure. The Brit was an enigma in non-oval events and was described as 'a prima donna who is extremely difficult to work with' by the Target crew.

Wheldon is having a remarkably consistent 2008 season with 8 Top-10 finishes through the first 11 races, but has been little threat to pull off a win unlike his predecessor, the perennial second-place Vitor Meira. Wheldon has slipped in the last three events, most notably a 14th-place marker in Toronto and 15th in Edmonton.

Possible destinations could be a problem for Wheldon, as racing program budgets continue to shrink and disappear for the 2010 season. Apparently, Andretti Green Racing is back in the mix with the pending departure of Danica Patrick for parts unknown, but that could be a smoke grenade thrown by Wheldon's camp to generate interest.

That National Guard training could come in handy.