Manning fired

luke · 26 Jul 2005, 21:11 (Ref:1364110)

indystar

Quote:

Darren Manning, one of the Indy Racing League drivers struggling this season with Indianapolis-based Ganassi Racing, was fired today.

Quote:

A replacement driver was not immediately named. It's possible the team will only run two cars at this weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway.

So could we see him back in Champ Car?

Kicking-back · 26 Jul 2005, 21:20 (Ref:1364121)

I think it's more likely he'll head back to Europe and sportscar racing.

His American dream's turned rather sour.

The ironic thing is he was probably the best performing of Chip's drivers this year!

climb · 27 Jul 2005, 06:23 (Ref:1364343)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

...

The ironic thing is he was probably the best performing of Chip's drivers this year!

Talking about "best" in this Ganassi disaster in not less ironic, either

Its always sad when a driver is released, but I sort of think he was wasting time at Ganassi.

luke · 26 Jul 2005, 21:22 (Ref:1364123)

Yeah I agree he was probably the best driver at Ganassi this year. So Chip was serious when he said the next car that is crashed your fired!

Snrub · 26 Jul 2005, 22:45 (Ref:1364201)

What the heck?!? Big mistake Chip. Perhaps Chip is frustrated by his team's lack of performance and is taking it out on a driver who tried to get every ounce that the car had to offer.

I suspect that you won't see Manning racing for the rest of the year, but I wouldn't be surprised if you see him on an IRL or Champ Car team for next year. If I had one and was looking to hire he'd be at or near the top of my list.

So Ganassi said that if he crashed again he was fired? It is odd, in 2003 he didn't break a single peice of the car at Walker racing because there simply weren't the funds available to replace it. Despite that he was quiet fast. Since joining the IRL he seems to have had a number of crashes. He was sort of like Scheckter II.

BSchneiderFan · 26 Jul 2005, 22:53 (Ref:1364212)

Ganassi has done this before with Nic Minassian, and I think that move was as foolish as this one. Manning hasn't been as good as some might have hoped, but this is silly. Silly, premature and demonstrating a lack of faith.

cos · 26 Jul 2005, 23:58 (Ref:1364246)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Manning hasn't been as good as some might have hoped, but this is silly.

It's the team that hasn't been as good as hoped - less than 2 years ago Dixon was cruising to the title and now look at them... 'firing' their best driver of the season

rush1 · 27 Jul 2005, 01:09 (Ref:1364272)

Thats a shame. Manning is a good driver and seems like a real nice guy. Hopefully someone will pick him up as Scheckter was.

D.R.T. · 27 Jul 2005, 02:17 (Ref:1364287)

Awful news. Very shortsighted by Chip and I wonder what the motive was behind this.

Manning was my favourite driver in IRL and has been battling away all season. What will the future hold for Manning and Gannasi.

mountainstar · 27 Jul 2005, 06:31 (Ref:1364348)

I think the motive was budgetary. They now have the excuse to run only 2 cars. briscoe is toyota's boy and dixon a former champion, so manning was the odd man out.

It's known Manning jumped to the IRL for the money and I can't blame him as I know how hard he had it for several years. But really what he was doing there other than that I don't know. I would expect several champ car teams to take a look at him for next year.

Snrub · 27 Jul 2005, 17:39 (Ref:1364858)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainstar

It's known Manning jumped to the IRL for the money and I can't blame him as I know how hard he had it for several years.

I really think Manning was looking for stability. Towards the end of the 2003 Champ Car season he was pushing for firm contracts, something no one was offering.

Given that Manning was running in ASCAR before CC and IRL, why is it suggested that he'd be looking for a GP2 driver? (I'm not that up on Manning's current press statements, etc)

Ganassi was taking a good look at RHR. Given his struggles at Rocketsports, a good paying job and a slightly better car at Ganassi looks like a pretty nice situation...

marcus · 27 Jul 2005, 08:14 (Ref:1364402)

wow , didnt see this one coming.

I would have thought they would be talking to Dixon about his performances this year not Darren.

A huge shame for him i guess , i hope he can pick something else up this year or at least concentrate on getting back full time in any series next year.

also maybe now with just having 2 cars to concentrate on Ganassi might be able to make some improvements perhaps ??

Maybe running 3 cars was just a bit much for them to take on (I doubt it as they are a quality team , but you never know).

Bad luck darren and all the best in the future

tanalised · 27 Jul 2005, 08:25 (Ref:1364409)

maybe they should've fired scott. God knows what he's doiung this year, doesn't even look interested at all...

BootsOntheSide · 27 Jul 2005, 08:34 (Ref:1364420)

I'd be amazed if a replacement driver is picked, unless it's a pay-driver. Slimming back to 2 cars would make some sense, and the fact is that Mannign doesn't have the sponsorship potential of Dixon or the backing of Briscoe, and a driver who's trying wrecks more cars than a driver who seemingly isn't. The chance of an opening emerging for this eyar is slim, as I doubt he'll be first choice as a replacement, but it might be wise for OWRS to get on the phone to him and try to secure him for themselves long-term, maybe even running an extra PKV entry to accomodate him.

Kicking-back · 27 Jul 2005, 08:37 (Ref:1364423)

OWRS already has a British driver (Wilson) on the grid, and another in storage (Dalziel).

I'm not sure there's any value in them going out of their way to fund Manning.

Down F0rce · 27 Jul 2005, 09:43 (Ref:1364476)

Well thats a bit rubbish. If they were going to sack anyone it should have been Dixon. At least Manning was trying.

I doub't we'll see Manning back in IRL or the other series. He'll be gunning for a GP2 drive I'll bet, maybe even an F1 test role.

climb · 27 Jul 2005, 12:22 (Ref:1364620)

Scott's been even worse than Danny, but he hasn'd had all those crashes.
Chip must be fed up with spending money to replace crashed cars.

Mystery · 27 Jul 2005, 13:28 (Ref:1364673)

How would they know they're too busy watching Danica? In fact how would any of us know because if the last race was anything to go by there was hardly anyone else circulating out there apart from her, until she hit the wall anyway

Kicking-back · 27 Jul 2005, 12:32 (Ref:1364632)

Briscoe's the crasher.

Manning hasn't crashed very often

luke · 27 Jul 2005, 12:51 (Ref:1364641)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Briscoe's the crasher.

Manning hasn't crashed very often

Try telling that to the international commentaters.

F1_KING · 27 Jul 2005, 13:35 (Ref:1364684)

briscoe is going well for his rookie year. he is not far behind his two team mates in points and is second in the rookie of the year.

trevisio · 27 Jul 2005, 14:26 (Ref:1364712)

So why were Chips cars so good they made Dixon look good? Where has the performance gone?

Snap decision making to fire a driver is a sure sign that questions are being asked by those paying the bills.

Classic scapegoat behaviour, "the car is slow lets fire a driver". For further reference see Stewart GP (Ford) F1 team history.

BootsOntheSide · 27 Jul 2005, 15:22 (Ref:1364744)

Briscoe's crashed less than Danica, and no more than any other promising rookie - especially one with no oval experience. I think the main motivation for scaling back is cost-cutting - there's no value in running 3 cars when you're not competitive, and he's probably feeling like it's time to scale back before considering what to do for 2006 (and that may not invovle IRL).

Kicking-back · 27 Jul 2005, 15:53 (Ref:1364771)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Briscoe's crashed less than Danica, and no more than any other promising rookie - especially one with no oval experience.

Not true.

Danica has crashed very rarely this season.

Briscoe's crashed multiple times in practice, qualifying and in races.

I'll go and dig out the figures if I have to!

Knowlesy · 27 Jul 2005, 18:00 (Ref:1364891)

What a stupid decision.

I have a lot of respect for Chip ganassi and his organisation, but this is a move so dumb it is indescribable.

Manning is their leading points scorer and most convincing driver. As opposed to Dixon who looks unmotivated and uninterested and Briscoe who has been under par mostly.

Oh dear.

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