Josef Newgarden to Sam Schmidt

[Mercury]

Another talented open wheeler to Sam Schmidts driver linup

http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/indy/indycar-development-series/schmidt-signs-returning-american-newgarden/

[Chris Paff]

Another talented open wheeler to Sam Schmidts driver linup

http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.co...can-newgarden/

Great news, a talented American driver getting a great ride

[Hitokiri]

Great news, a talented American driver getting a great ride

I agree, great move by Sam Schmidt bringing another talented American driver back to the States.

[ptclaus98]

Yes, I now have someone to root for. I wonder if he's a UT fan?

[AFColt]

He should be fun to watch this year.

[Fro]

Definitely a title threat at Schmidt. Should be fun to watch.

[Miguel]

Another F1 minded ride buyer

[Hitokiri]

Another F1 minded ride buyer

Actually Josef was invited to test and join various Indy Lights teams. I heard he orginally was suppose to signed by Andretti Autosport but somehow found his way to Sam Schmidt instead.

The fact that Josef actually had ride offers in Europe and skipped over some very select FIA junior ladder series events to join Indy Lights shows where his heart was. Josef did very well in England and though he had a rough time in GP3 it wasn't like he was already a wasted product in the European ladder series. I like to believe that Josef saw where the Indycar Series was going and wanted to join the ride. Why else would he give up all that to join American open wheel?

[ptclaus98]

Actually Josef was invited to test and join various Indy Lights teams. I heard he orginally was suppose to signed by Andretti Autosport but somehow found his way to Sam Schmidt instead.

The fact that Josef actually had ride offers in Europe and skipped over some very select FIA junior ladder series events to join Indy Lights shows where his heart was. Josef did very well in England and though he had a rough time in GP3 it wasn't like he was already a wasted product in the European ladder series. I like to believe that Josef saw where the Indycar Series was going and wanted to join the ride. Why else would he give up all that to join American open wheel?

Because he ran out of funds?

[ARROWZ46]

Actually Josef was invited to test and join various Indy Lights teams. I heard he orginally was suppose to signed by Andretti Autosport but somehow found his way to Sam Schmidt instead.

The fact that Josef actually had ride offers in Europe and skipped over some very select FIA junior ladder series events to join Indy Lights shows where his heart was. Josef did very well in England and though he had a rough time in GP3 it wasn't like he was already a wasted product in the European ladder series. I like to believe that Josef saw where the Indycar Series was going and wanted to join the ride. Why else would he give up all that to join American open wheel?

Miguel was using sarcasm??? Notice the silly face at the start of his comment...

Like ptclaus98 stated... his $$$ goes farther in the USA

[Hitokiri]

Miguel was using sarcasm??? Notice the silly face at the start of his comment...

Like ptclaus98 stated... his $$$ goes farther in the USA

I knew that ARROWZ46 but I also knew there are those on here that felt that the only reason why Josef was in Indy Lights was because of his money and I don't believe that.
In reality, on another thread, people were talking about the various differences in prices between GP3, Formula Renault, and Indy Lights - at the end the European series were a lot cheaper. Even GP2, which cost about $1.3 million to run a team for a whole season, is about equal to the cost of a Lights team which take about a million if you want a competitive ride.

*takes a breath of air*

I guess it just bothers me when people just assume that, whether its Indy Lights or Indycar Series, everyone that's coming is a ride buyer. Maybe Sam Schmidt and teams like Andretti Autosport just want the best drivers and want to see the best North American drivers make the Indycar Series. I don't see it as a coincidence that the leading Americans in the Indy Lights Series have all come from either Sam Schmidt or a team related to Andretti Autosport. I think both of these teams (along with AFS) are purposely trying to lure in and keep the best American talent in the Road to Indy to help stabilize the future of the Indycar Series. Maybe I give them too much credit but Josef, whose money would actually go further in the European series if you look at the overall cost, was rumored to be line to test both Formula Renault and GP3 cars before coming back to the States. Sure the argument can also be made that Josef's chances at success is much greater in Indy Lights due to the number of cars, the depth of talent, or what have you - but I personally want to believe that Josef sees where Indycar is going and is attracted to it.

Too idealistic? Maybe.... but looking at how things are turning out I think I do have strong points.

[ARROWZ46]

I'm not one of those people crapping on Josef. :nono: Indy Lights can be done cheaper than competing in Europe... the teams tend to get more creative in what talented drivers (like Josef or Conor Daly) bring them to race. Josef's $$$ would NOT have gotten him top line GP3 or GP2 equipment. As we know SSM is the "king" of Indy Lights

[Miguel]

Glad you both got my sarcasm there. It was ofcourse aimed at the usual crying about foreigners and then making up stories about ride buying and all that and the crying about anyone who ever even had a small look at F1, by the same people. I'm awaiting the moment Wayne "It Has Always Been About Indy" Boyd will be 'crapped on' for being from the UK, even if all he ever wants to do is race IndyCars.

On the budget part, I am about 99% sure that European racing series are alot more expensive than the Road to Indy. Lets also not forget that Andretti Autosport until last year already had a sponsor themself, and SSM also still has many sponsors of their own. That makes it alot easier for someone with a European Formula Renault 1.5 budget to step into the Road to Indy. GP2 also is not cheap, especially this season with the new car. I have heard from people in the know numbers in the region of 2 to 3 million for one season. Those are the LOW numbers, at shoestring budget teams. I do not want to think about what Barwa Addax and Lotus ART would cost. Budgets at British F3 and Euroseries F3 are crazy too, and those are Star Mazda level.

At any rate, I am very glad Joe (would he like to be called like that? Josef sounds so '50s) Newgarden has chosen the IndyCar road. Even if he had a poor 2010, he is still a very talented driver. And that is what we need right now, that he is American is nice and all that, but a nationality won't make anyone go any faster (or slower). I love racing and hate discrimination.

[sejarzo]

Sam Schmidt himself said in an interview last year that FIL was a cheaper option than Euro junior series due to exchange rate issues (with the dollar weak against the euro.) A dollar-based sponsorship doesn't go far in the EU.

[SteveK51]

I am very glad Joe (would he like to be called like that? Josef sounds so '50s) Newgarden has chosen the IndyCar road.

Joe Newgarden is Josef's Robo-Pong peddling father. Josef vs. Joe is kinda like Mini Al going by Albert for a period.