Pizzonia: 'I'd rather test in F-1.....

[Jim Wilke]

........than race in CC.'

From Atlas:

Antonio Pizzonia says he would rather remain in Formula One as a third driver, than get a race driver in Champ Car.

The Williams test driver lost a chance at a racing seat with his team, when the Grove-based outfit preferred to sign Nico Rosberg for next seaosn.

This leaves Pizzonia with no real option of a race drive in F1, and he was widely speculated to move to Champ Car instead.

But the Brazilian admitted yesterday at Cartagena, Columbia, that he would rather put off the move to North American racing for a couple of years.

"I think I'm still too young to go to America," Pizzonia said. "I'm still 25 and I think it's better for me to stay in F1 and try to get a good deal within the next couple of years. Then we´ll see."

[jonovision_man]

"I'm still 25 and I think it's better for me to stay in F1 and try to get a good deal within the next couple of years."

So your subject should really read "I'd rather test in F1 hoping for a race seat than race in CC."

Remember that Pizzonia had a race seat in F1 this season for a handful of races.

jono

[Richard Kimble]

"I'm still 25 and I think it's better for me to stay in F1 and try to get a good deal within the next couple of years."

So your subject should really read "I'd rather test in F1 hoping for a race seat than race in CC."

Remember that Pizzonia had a race seat in F1 this season for a handful of races.

jono

The implication is still clear.

[chicanery]

The thought of Pizzonia coming over isn't exactly thrilling...not when Dalziel, Valiente, etc.,etc., are looking for rides.

[chicanery]

The implication is still clear.

Very similar to Danny Boy.

[Richard Kimble]

Very similar to Danny Boy.

When you run out of ammo,throw in the IRL.

Classic deflection,well done.

[jonovision_man]

The implication is still clear.

Staying in F1 is the best way to get into F1?

That's just stating the obvious.

jono

[Richard Kimble]

Staying in F1 is the best way to get into F1?

That's just stating the obvious.

jono

Not at all.CART has long been thought of as a training ground,but with Bourdais' experience[2 titles,no hope],it seems that drivers recognize that CART has become a career dead-end.

And,to avoid appearing partisan,the IRL isn't going to do much for you either.

[Doc Austin]

S
Staying in F1 is the best way to get into F1?

That may keep you in the series, but it didn't do much more for Jos Verstappen than land him a bunch of rides that were well beneath him. Same thing with Mika Salo.

We saw how good Verstappen was when he smoked everyone with the Honda in the F1 tests a few years ago, and we saw how good Salo was when Mika gifted Eddie Irvine a sure win at Hockenheiom when they were Ferrari teammates. We've also seen how good he is in the FIA GT Maserati.

If you aren't one of the favored ones you aren't going anywhere no matter how good you are. You can stay in just to stay in, and bring up ther rear for year after year in crap rides......or you can move onto a suposed "lesser" series and get intio a competitive situation.

Riding around at the rear of F1 might be glamorous, but it can't be as much fun as having a chance to win somewhere else.

[rocketdoc]

........than race in CC.'

From Atlas:

Oh my, the sky is falling... again.

[jonovision_man]

Not at all.CART has long been thought of as a training ground,but with Bourdais' experience[2 titles,no hope],it seems that drivers recognize that CART has become a career dead-end.

And,to avoid appearing partisan,the IRL isn't going to do much for you either.

Agreed. There are 20 drivers who get the priveldge of driving in F1, and rarely do seats in the top teams come available. More and more they're sticking with the known quanitites, and those are guys they see week in and week out over in Europe. With GP2, I don't see any reason to cross the Atlantic to scout talent, it's all right under their noses.

US OW is a reasonable 2nd choice. I won't say which series. Really, they've both proved good for various drivers, Bourdais did well in CCWS, so did Bruno, Schekter and Wheldon have done great with the IRL.

Beats working for a living.

jono

[Indyknut]

Not at all.CART has long been thought of as a training ground,but with Bourdais' experience[2 titles,no hope],it seems that drivers recognize that CART has become a career dead-end.

And,to avoid appearing partisan,the IRL isn't going to do much for you either.

If Pizzonia signs a contract with a CCWS team he's obligated to run the season. If he stays a test driver he's there if someone needs a backup driver due to injury.

Gee, that wasn't to hard to figure out now was it Dick?

[chicanery]

We saw how good Verstappen was when he smoked everyone with the Honda in the F1 tests a few years ago, and we saw how good Salo was when Mika gifted Eddie Irvine a sure win at Hockenheiom when they were Ferrari teammates. We've also seen how good he is in the FIA GT Maserati.

Hey, we sort of agree on something! Verstappen's talent was wasted for whatever reasons, as were Salo's. I loved Mika's ~5 races in champ car, and I'll never totally forgive KK for not rehiring him the following season...great personality and blessed with a huge amont of natural talent...big loss to CC all because of KK's penny-pinching.

[Cygni]

A grand majority of American open wheel's best drivers faced the same question as Pizzonia, and decided they would rather race than test. Kannan, Deferran, Franchitti, Dixon, Bourdais, Junqy, and on and on. They could all easily get test or friday driver seats, but all would rather race.

Its Pizzonia's choice. I would rather race, and i hardly think this reflects anything on ChampCar. Drivers have been making this choice for 15+ years.

And Salo was replaced by Jimmy Vasser... i hardly think thats a bad thing. It IS a shame he couldnt have landed somewhere, though.

[jonovision_man]

KK's penny-pinching.

Is that a joke?

jono