Montezemolo wants Americans run third Ferrari
By Jay
December 22 2010
Ferrari President, Luca di Montezemolo while stirring up the controversy to push for three-car teams, said he wished American racing giants Penske and Ganassi as possible partners for running the third ferrari car.
Ferrari has been calling for the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) to expand Formula One teams from two to three cars from quite some time.
"It would be nice to see a third Ferrari fielded perhaps by a private American team,” di Montezemolo told Italy’s Autosprint magazine. “I'm thinking of a team like Ganassi or Penske. On the question of a third car, we are determined.”
Critising once again the smaller teams, he said, "If a team does not have the money to be in Formula 1, they can go to GP2," di Montezemolo continued. "It is disheartening to see someone like Trulli many seconds behind. Think what Jarno could do with a Ferrari given to his team."
A section of the F1 community also felt that smaller grids would be preferable to slower cars, citing possible safety concerns and also saying the image of Formula One as the most elite auto racing series on the planet, would be sullied by poorly-performing teams.
Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi run some the of the most diverse and most successful racing teams in North America, competing in NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Nationwide, IndyCar, and at different times in Grand Am and the American Le Mans Series.
Roger Penske has been part of American and international racing for five decades. In the past Penske ran his own F1 team, and also competed in Trans Am and Can Am racing.
This year, Chip Ganassi received the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) Achievement Award and the National Speed Sport News Champion award, the first non-driver winner, and a John Bolster Award from Autosport magazine for team achievement.
In 2010, Ganassi Racing became the first team to win the Daytona 500, the Indy 500, and the Brickyard 400 in one season; Ganassi teams also won the IndyCar and Grand Am championships.
Chip Ganassi racing has won the past three IndyCar championships, and two of the last three Grand Am championships.
Penske Racing and Ganassi Racing teams are invariably well funded, well supported, and operate at the highest levels of proficiency and professionalism. Both teams have the budgets to hire the best personnel, and the records to attract the biggest sponsors.
However, a section of American fans are upset and feels that Montezemolo is attempting to steal away two of the top IndyCar teams to F1 at a time when IndyCar is struggling to emerge from decades of division.
While others argue that F1 is too expensive and it would be risky business in F1, when they are doing well in the United States.
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Now, as for Chip, well....
This is an opportunity to bring the two series together in a fashion. Wow, I'd love that, but will it happen ?
To me it's a very long shot, but it could create a toe-hold for things to come. I really would love to see open wheeled racing take off in North America in a F1 format. Not as a competition, but a a global blending making the sport only greater.
P.S. Indy Andy has his finger on the pulse of NA open wheeled racing. His site gives you good insight to the changes occurring there.
Right now lots is happening, along with the coming of F1 to Austin Texas.
sessions
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2010:12:22:17:23:22 by sessions.
“For the teams it’s not expensive as the parts are already there,”
“A third car could be an unique opportunity for young drivers to get into F1.
“If it was up to me, I would have the maximum age of a third driver at let’s say 23. You could make it a kind of development car for a talented driver.”
“Let’s face it, at the moment the so-called ‘third driver’ has little or no opportunities to drive,” he said.
Instead of putting huge resources to start a team, here you already have a car, just a bit of good management and good technical expertise would make them shine.
Wouldn't it be great if a private team is able to run a single car, with a young driver, able to match or beat their main supporter viz., ferrari/mclaren.
It would also help these private teams to then get good sponsorship in future to start their own full fledged team.