Hiring US Drivers

[Jaws44]

I don't post much here, but enjoy checking in from time to time. After reading Curt Cavins Q&A today, it got me thinking of the roster of Indycar drivers. With all respect the current stars of Indycars such of Dixon, Helio, Montoya, Power, etc., they don't do much to move the needle in the US. As I fan, I enjoy watching them but the casual fan doesn't relate to them. As it has been stated here before, we need more US drivers. I also understand the owners needs money to run a team and it is their business but this business model is failing.

Many other national sport leagues, such as Korean/Japanese baseball and many European baseball/hockey leagues, they have a cap on the number of foreign players are on each team's rosters. What do others think about Indycar instituting a 50% US born driver rule for each team.

For example,

• one-car team, you must have a US born driver
• two-car team, must have one US born driver
• three -car team, you must have two US born drivers
• four-car team, you must have two US born drivers,
• you get the point...

I would hope this could remove some of the foreign ride buyers and fill the Indycar roster with US drivers. I apologize if this was discuss somewhere else. What are others thoughts? Would this be possible?

[FTHurley]

I don't post much here, but enjoy checking in from time to time. After reading Curt Cavins Q&A today, it got me thinking of the roster of Indycar drivers. With all respect the current stars of Indycars such of Dixon, Helio, Montoya, Power, etc., they don't do much to move the needle in the US. As I fan, I enjoy watching them but the casual fan doesn't relate to them. As it has been stated here before, we need more US drivers. I also understand the owners needs money to run a team and it is their business but this business model is failing.

Many other national sport leagues, such as Korean/Japanese baseball and many European baseball/hockey leagues, they have a cap on the number of foreign players are on each team's rosters. What do others think about Indycar instituting a 50% US born driver rule for each team.

For example,

• one-car team, you must have a US born driver
• two-car team, must have one US born driver
• three -car team, you must have two US born drivers
• four-car team, you must have two US born drivers,
• you get the point...

I would hope this could remove some of the foreign ride buyers and fill the Indycar roster with US drivers. I apologize if this was discuss somewhere else. What are others thoughts? Would this be possible?

Why would I want to see a less talented driver get a seat in the series over a more talented driver due to their respective national origins?

[GTRacer]

Why would I want to see a less talented driver get a seat in the series over a more talented driver due to their respective national origins?

That is what you are getting now, isn't it? Many talented American drivers sitting out watching less-talented but better funded foreign drivers racing on American soil!

[ryspy8492]

I apologize if this was discuss somewhere else.

A thread along the same lines is started about every two week during the silly season and they all last a maximum of 20 posts before getting ugly.

I bet the majority of TF posters could hold both sides of the argument themselves at this point.

[Old Racer]

I understand your thoughts on this, I want more American drivers as well. But, money makes the wheels go round, and without ridebuyers, which mainly come from overseas, a lot of the rides would disappear.

Can Panther racing field a car this year if no overseas ridebuyer comes on board? I don't think so!

It's unfortunate, but young Americans can't find the funding, see Sage Karam!

[TimmyZ1]

did you read all of the answer or just the part you wanted to hear? Fix the lack of promotion and marketing in the series to get more money in the coffers of both the series and the owners pockets and you'll get the better American drivers and better European drivers. As for the drivers you listed above that "don't move the needle" those are the absolute best in the business. And more importantly its not there job to move the needle. That's the series and the owners jobs.

For you last part, that's just dumb. You want the sport to waive the American flag but then go about doing it with something that's fundamentally un-American? I get some of the rage towards the foreign checkbook bringing drivers but they aren't the fault. You need to get to the root cause which as I said in another post.

The product and driver's aren't the damn issue. Nobody knows Indycar exists is the damn issue


Seriously, why the eff when people ***** about foreign drivers they single out Will, Dixie, Helio, Pags, Dario (before he retired) and others? We are DAMN lucky to have that caliber of talent in the field. In a dream world would it be cool to see some of NASCAR's drivers in Indycars? Yes, but I sure as hell am not replacing Dixie with Matt Kenseth. or Willy Power with Denny Hamlin just for the idea of "Murican' Drivers rulezzz". Hockey and basketball all have no issues promoting there foreign talent. Hopefully these new guys Miles hired bring some of the same knowledge and ideas.


I'm so sick of seeing this flag waving jingoistic crap. Fix the core finance issues with the series and we will get all the quality American drivers you want.

Dammit we need a race. St. Pete can't come soon enough.

[Lis]

Unless they're ancestral Native, every 'US driver' is of foreign heritage, be it European, Asian, South American, African... even YOU the fan reading this likely have foreign blood in your veins! All drivers look the same with their helmets on, they all eat, breath, laugh, cry, make out the same, regardless of the place of birth stamp on their butt. Just enjoy the racing, and if it irks or you feel you can't 'relate' to any driver unless he's Caucasian Dave from Indiana, try supporting the driver who shares the same national heritage as your family forefathers, that should give y'all more choice tic.

[lizardfolk]

See the Asian Le Mans series that forces a team to hire an asian driver for each car. It's hurt that series' credibility.

There's also 6 full time American drivers in IndyCar this coming year. How many American drivers do you need? 90% of the field? Didn't early IRL already have that? Don't think that worked out well

[ICS001]

Other than Aleshin and Sato (who were signed months ago), which foreign ride buyers are stopping a US driver getting a seat?

Dixon, Power etc are hired by the top teams because they get the job done.

[Old Racer]

There's also 6 full time American drivers in IndyCar this coming year.

6 full time?

Kimball, Andretti, Hunter-Reay, Rahal, and Newgarden! That's five unless I'm missing someone! Carpenter is PART TIME sharing his ride {car} with Brit, Conway!

[Muskie4041]

People need to open their mind.

[sejarzo]

It's not that casual fans don't relate to the current top drivers...casual fans don't relate to Indycar for the most part.

Casual fans are now far more attracted to manufactured motorsports entertainment and therefore watch NASCAR....and I don't see that changing much.

[Jaws44]

Why would I want to see a less talented driver get a seat in the series over a more talented driver due to their respective national origins?

I don't think I clearly illustrated my point. We need Dixon, Helio, Montoya, Power, etc in the series but need to find a way to add Bryan Clauson, Chad Boat, Alex Gurney, Joey Hand, Jonathan Summerton, and Connor Daly. I would rather have them in the series over Saavedra, Jakes, Aleshin, etc.

[Jaws44]

did you read all of the answer or just the part you wanted to hear? Fix the lack of promotion and marketing in the series to get more money in the coffers of both the series and the owners pockets and you'll get the better American drivers and better European drivers. As for the drivers you listed above that "don't move the needle" those are the absolute best in the business. And more importantly its not there job to move the needle. That's the series and the owners jobs.

For you last part, that's just dumb. You want the sport to waive the American flag but then go about doing it with something that's fundamentally un-American? I get some of the rage towards the foreign checkbook bringing drivers but they aren't the fault. You need to get to the root cause which as I said in another post.

The product and driver's aren't the damn issue. Nobody knows Indycar exists is the damn issue


Seriously, why the eff when people ***** about foreign drivers they single out Will, Dixie, Helio, Pags, Dario (before he retired) and others? We are DAMN lucky to have that caliber of talent in the field. In a dream world would it be cool to see some of NASCAR's drivers in Indycars? Yes, but I sure as hell am not replacing Dixie with Matt Kenseth. or Willy Power with Denny Hamlin just for the idea of "Murican' Drivers rulezzz". Hockey and basketball all have no issues promoting there foreign talent. Hopefully these new guys Miles hired bring some of the same knowledge and ideas.


I'm so sick of seeing this flag waving jingoistic crap. Fix the core finance issues with the series and we will get all the quality American drivers you want.

Dammit we need a race. St. Pete can't come soon enough.

Promotion may be simpler and better solution, but it doesn't seem that sponsors want to back the current formula.

[Jaws44]

See the Asian Le Mans series that forces a team to hire an asian driver for each car. It's hurt that series' credibility.

There's also 6 full time American drivers in IndyCar this coming year. How many American drivers do you need? 90% of the field? Didn't early IRL already have that? Don't think that worked out well

50% would be nice...but I understand your point. It would be potential downside to the thought.