Veteran Indy Car Series Drivers Without Rides As ‘09 Season Nears

Veteran Indy Car Series Drivers Without Rides As '09 Season Nears

Show your support.
Buzz this article up.

Veteran Indy Car Series Drivers Without Rides As '09 Season Nears

Ron McQueeney/IMS


Several veteran IndyCar Series drivers attended the Open Test at Homestead-Miami Speedway to continue meeting with team principals in the hopes of securing a ride before the first race of the season on April 5.

Among those walking the paddock were race winners Ryan Hunter-Reay and Tomas Scheckter, as well as Bruno Junqueira, Oriol Servia and Jeff Simmons.

“It’s tough for the drivers, and it’s tough for the teams,” Servia said. “I’d say the two best transition teams last year had to change their alignment, so it just shows how it is. It makes you wonder what we have to do. I’m here because I want to do this. I haven’t looked at any other series, because this is what I believe, and I believe in the product.

“Everybody has the perfect excuse right now with the (financial) crisis. It’s tough, but I still think there is room for open wheel even with the crisis. People still want to see us racing. We provide a good show, and I’m a good driver. That’s why I keep my hopes up that something good will happen.

“There’s a new project that’s really close to getting the green light, but every day there seems to be a little issue that it hasn’t happened yet. There are a couple other teams that as soon as they get something ready I’ll get the phone call, but it’s just tough.”


 
Recent Posts
Ron Capps Eager to Get Back on Track at Pomona Season-Opener
Danica Patrick To Race in NASCAR Nationwide Event at Daytona
Yamaha’s David Philippaerts Finishes 5th at MX Season Opener in Mantova
WoO: Steve Kinser Wins Finale of DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park
MX: Teka Suzuki Riders Take Podium Finish in Mantova
JennaFryer
Kelley E on @kellybires: "The sponsorship scenario with hellmans one race is contracted for dale jr and it's daytona ... (cont)

JennaFryer
Kelley E: ``Then we signed danica for 13 races with godaddy. as we were getting down to the wire, we were going to take 3 cars to daytona

JennaFryer
Kelley E: ``i think it would have been different if we had sponsorship for the 88 for whole season. We have 12 of 35 with contracts in hand

JennaFryer
Kelley E: "We are looking to run the balance of the season on our own dime & we just couldn't make that expense (3rd car for @kellybires)"

NateRyan
@davekallmann @jim_utter Amen.

JennaFryer
Kelley E on the No. 7: 'It was her decision on Daytona. If she decided not to go, (@kellybires) was the first choice to go."

MichaelWaltrip
Remember these bad asses ? http://tweetphoto.com/10824634

JennaFryer
The understanding I came to after talking to Kelley E is JRM replaced @kellybires with Dale Jr, not @Danicapatrick for sponsor obligation

DaveKallmann
@nateryan And other sports are different? How?

NateRyan
@davekallmann Rulebooks that aren't fluid, unions that mean salaries get published for coaches, players, etc....Publicly owned stadiums...