Panther 2nd Car

B/Mark · 27 Oct 2003, 09:46 (Ref:764317)

John Barnes has posted on the team website that an announcement regarding a second car will come tuesday.

climb · 27 Oct 2003, 10:05 (Ref:764342)

Very good, indeed!

**gomick** · 27 Oct 2003, 10:24 (Ref:764363)

indeed it is

- i wonder who will get that drive, mark taylor

B/Mark · 27 Oct 2003, 10:39 (Ref:764383)

There is a whole list of drivers up for the seat!
It will however be difficult to ignore their Infiniti Pro series champ who dominated the series this year. He has also tested the IRL car and the team made some very positive noises straight after. He apparently was on the pace within 5 laps.

Down F0rce · 27 Oct 2003, 13:20 (Ref:764527)

Very good news indeed, personally I'd love to see Mark Taylor get the seat but we havent heard anything about a possible replacement for him in the IPS team, which might sugget that he isnt being replaced...still, I cant wait

climb · 27 Oct 2003, 13:53 (Ref:764564)

Doesn't the IPS champion deserve authomatically a seat in IRL?

B/Mark · 27 Oct 2003, 15:31 (Ref:764657)

Nothing is automatic in motorsport.
But yes he does!

BootsOntheSide · 27 Oct 2003, 22:09 (Ref:765107)

I think it will go to a young driver, probably a rookie. Mark Taylor does seem teh msot likely, but we'll have to wait and see. Maybe the team can develop him as well as they have Sam.

Having 2 Brits in the IRL and at least 1 in CART might help UK audiences wake up to the thrilling, competitive, even raicng that goes on in the US.

Mackmot · 28 Oct 2003, 02:45 (Ref:765293)

B/Mark · 28 Oct 2003, 06:42 (Ref:765396)

Driver announcement has been delayed a few days out of respect for Tony Renna and family. His memorial service was Monday.

racer69 · 28 Oct 2003, 12:15 (Ref:765631)

There is a rumour going around that Team Menard has shut up shop, and that a Panther entry next year will be back by Menards/John Mansville etc...whether that would be the 2nd Panther car or a 3rd is open for debate.

If Vitor Meira is on the market, then surely he would be a contender, especially if the Menards backed car is true.

cos · 28 Oct 2003, 13:00 (Ref:765682)

Indeed, Menard and Panther have 'merged': http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=25148&s=18
Seems like it's still only 2 cars though.

Down F0rce · 28 Oct 2003, 13:04 (Ref:765689)

This could change the whole outlook on who the second driver will be. Perhaps Meria will get the seat?

I'm a little dissapointed to see no announcemnt today, but out of respect for Tony it was the right thing to do.

Down F0rce · 28 Oct 2003, 13:16 (Ref:765698)

Apparantly the announcemnt is coming next Tuesday.

climb · 28 Oct 2003, 15:09 (Ref:765798)

It would be great to see Richie Hearn back on seat; after all he was the only at Menard, who did something remarkable this year.

gttouring · 28 Oct 2003, 16:09 (Ref:765844)

What was the delay, they had a terriffic program with Hornish and a second car would've vaulted them into easy champions, far easier than hornish alone.
now they run the risk of a wacko in the car and the new guy in the second.

climb · 28 Oct 2003, 16:33 (Ref:765868)

Well, i think that panther's main problem was engine, not a second driver (which would have been very useful, though).
Infact, when they got the right one, Sam delivered immediately.

BootsOntheSide · 28 Oct 2003, 16:57 (Ref:765892)

Sad to see the end of Menard as an independant operation, and sad that this means one less seat in the IRL enxt year, and greatly lessens the chance of Mark Taylor getting a go (although Meira is certainly more than worthy of a seat himself). It looks bleak for both Lazier brothers as well.

climb · 29 Oct 2003, 08:35 (Ref:766619)

The loss is just related to expectations, since actually ther's just a levery change: one more in yllow and once less on blue.
Frankly speaking if panther and Menard get along thay can do very well, since Menard has lots of money (much more tha Pather) and Panther has lots of racing skills (much more than Menard); as we say in Italy "with your money and my brtains we'll do great things"!

rustyfan · 29 Oct 2003, 08:42 (Ref:766625)

I'm a bit disappointed about the merger - I had hoped to see a second Panther car that would increase the car count.

One good thing about it, however, is that the second Panther car should be a more competitive than the lone Menard-car was this season

climb · 29 Oct 2003, 08:48 (Ref:766629)

Does any report confirm that the Menard car won't increase Panther's cars number to three?
After all the addition of a second car was decided way before the merger was announced...

rustyfan · 29 Oct 2003, 08:56 (Ref:766636)

Quote:

Originally posted by climb
Does any report confirm that the Menard car won't increase Panther's cars number to three?
After all the addition of a second car was decided way before the merger was announced...

True, but then again the merger has probably been in the works for some time...

climb · 29 Oct 2003, 09:19 (Ref:766654)

Certainly, but I don't think so much early, considering that Menard has been linked to Cheever up to some weeks ago...
I mean, what you say is much more likely to happen, but I just want to keep a different hope till facts won't deny it!

macdaddy · 29 Oct 2003, 09:34 (Ref:766670)

Excerpts from this AP article...

http://sports.yahoo.com/irl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns

Panther Racing and Team Menard have merged to form a two-car team... The team will still be known as Panther Racing, with Menard joining as a partner. Tomas Scheckter will drive the No. 4 Dallara-Chevrolet in 2004, with the driver of the second car to be named later, according to a statement issued by Panther Racing."

climb · 29 Oct 2003, 10:18 (Ref:766703)

You kill my hope then

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