Bruno Injured / Replaced by Servia

[mabs_nsx]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Bruno will be out for up to six months.

That really sux.

[Liz]

Originally Posted by mabs_nsx

That really sux.

And we owe it all to A.J. Foyt, who can't realize that someone with his name could be completely unfit to be within 1,000 miles of a race track except as a spectator ...

Mr. Haas is the one who has shot his team, and not in the foot -- somewhat higher up the anatomy perhaps ...

[BootsOntheSide]

Servia is ideal for Milwaukee, as he's a marvellous oval driver. His season with Coyne last year really destroyed my slightly negative opinion of him as a driver, and I think he is a threat to win this race. If Bruno turns out to be out for the balance fo the season, he may not be ideal though - perhaps OWRS should fund Coyne to run someone like Bell for this race, and then consider doing a swap after Milwaukee?

[Liz]

That's what I think they will do, they'll sign up another guy currently not driving, that they want to give a good look -- and I am still holding out for Haberfeld.

[Tim Northcutt]

BTW...there is a rumor that Jourdain turned down the ride with Newman-Haas, thus prompting them to sign Servia.

[macdaddy]

It's more than just a rumour, Tim.
Jourdain was quoted as saying that he had a Busch race on the same day as Milwaukee.

[Tim Northcutt]

Thanks, macdaddy...since I don't follow the Busch Series, I was unaware of that...

[macdaddy]

Coyne is expected to announce Servia's replacement today.

[marcus]

another pay driver perhaps ?

or will we see a talent such as haberfeld , Gidley or valiante in the seat ? (just picking names at random there)

[kootje]

Is talking with Newman/Haas !? that is what the Dutch media are saying so we have another driver looking for Bruno's seat at Newman/Haas! it would be a great lineup i'm sure that Jos will do well!!

Grtz Kootje

[Bezzen]

I was waiting for Jos' name to show up.

[BootsOntheSide]

Originally Posted by Liz

That's what I think they will do, they'll sign up another guy currently not driving, that they want to give a good look -- and I am still holding out for Haberfeld.

Liz doesn't agree with me very often. Haberfeld would be good, but I'd really be hapyp if tehy put an American in the car, the championship does need them, especailly as Ryan has struggled somewhat this season and AJ is losing out to Wilson so far (although it's early days).

[Snrub]

I'd forgotten about Servia at Patrick. Frankly I thought he could do better than he acheived. The things he's managed to do at DCR make me want to see him in a good car again.

I dunno. I had high hopes for RHR, but he's really not showing a lot more potential.

I know it's contriversal, but I'll join in with others to put some support behind the idea of getting Bell back into CC. The series could handle more US drivers and so far this season RHR and AJ (whom I think is capable of a lot) have not been doing it.

[Jordi]

Well, we don't really know how good Patrick was. OK, it was a race-winning team up until 2001, but I don't think it was race-winning material in 2002-3. Had some luck gone their way in 2003 Oriol would be a winner, but he isn't and that seems like a huge burden to wear.

I really hope Oriol makes the most of this chance. I feel he deserves it. So what if he is not the most marketable driver. Bourdais isn't American either

[Kicking-back]

Anthony Davidson was offered the Newman Haas seat but turned it down

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Anthony Davidson was offered the Newman Haas seat but turned it down

Poor Oriol, looks like he's the last guy to have been offered this seat!

His Patrick years were great, considering. Patrick were not at their best at the time...take Pruett, Moreno & Bell's near end performance. Plus they were 'nard users.

Oriol has always turned whatever unlikely car he's been in to a strong occassional podium grabbing runner...(Sigma, Coyne). I don't recall his first year alongside da Matta at PPI being particularly poor either.

Hope the Newman-Haas drive goes well for him.

[rustyfan]

A Swedish newspaper asked Kenny Brack if he had been in touch with Newman/Haas, and Kenny didn't want to deny nor verify it right now, so I reckon we can assume there has been at least some sort of contact there as well.

[Hazza]

I think it's a great idea to have Oriol in the car, in 2003 it seemed whenever Oriol was on course for a shot at the win Jordain took it away - And plus 3rd at Millwauke in 2003 show's that he's good at the track. Ironically in that race Bruno went into the wall and for a while it looked like he'd hurt his back and ruined his championship chances...

[mac]

Originally Posted by Hazza

And plus 3rd at Millwauke in 2003 show's that he's good at the track.

It was actually second place - and included quite a feisty dice with Paul Tracy for the majority of the race if I remember rightly.

[BootsOntheSide]

Considering Davidson's F1 contract with BAR-Honda, and their obvoious IRL links (to the point where he's rumoured to be losing his drive to, ironically, Dan Wheldon for next year), Ant was never going to be in a position to accept. In any case he would have no chance for Milwaukee having never raced on an oval before. Much as I rate Ant as a driver, Servia is a far better choice.

[climb]

Originally Posted by Liz

..
Mr. Haas is the one who has shot his team, and not in the foot -- somewhat higher up the anatomy perhaps ...

I can't imagine (or can I ?) what Mr Newman will have told Mr Haas when informed that Bruno (the current leader of the C-C) is out for the rest of the season.

[JohnSSC]

When you have a chance to win a minimum of $1.7 million AND bragging rights, you go for it. So, whatever PLN said (imho) would have been along the lines of "I hope he is okay."

Racers like rewards and risks. They take risks every day at every track they go to. Sometimes when there is a big moment the driver steps out of the car and waves, sometimes not.

In any event, it would have been good if N-H had found it possible to get an American in the seat. I don't know enough about the politics involved in some of the "offers" that were made by the other teams (RHR for example) but my suspicion is that there was a large price tag associated with taking one of those drivers that perhaps N-H was unwilling to pay.

[Liz]

There are people in this world who really think that things can be legitimate even if there are no Americans involved at all. And my guess is that the huge hit NH took with losing one of their star drivers and having to pay out for an additional salary and testing time to get a new driver up to speed will more than eat up any money and or "glory" they might have gathered from running in the IRL for one race.

But I will wait to hear what Bruno AND Mr. Newman have to say on the subject.

[N I Tram]

What happened to Bruno was a freakish situation though. The chance of it happening was miniscule, and the chance of the team getting a win or another really big finish was high. I'm sure they would make the same decision again.

[climb]

Since the big teams steadily switched to IRL, the chance of getting to Indy and take an easy win is extremely weak.

Moreover it's well known that Newman was and is absolutely contrary to the IRL world, infact he didn't want his name on the indy franchise.