Scott Speed

[IRLfan4]

I am watching a little bit of Arca to see who is in it and was surprised to see Scott Speed in there (I hadn't read where he had gone). I began to wonder why nobody would pick him up for IndyCars especially with Red Bull still on board and his F1 experience (though short-lived). I then read this from USA Today.

Red Bull started a Nextel Cup team this year and also has sponsorship ties to the two major open-wheel series based in the USA. But Speed wasn't interested in offers from IRL IndyCar or Champ Car, whose three-time champion Sebastien Bourdais will be leaving to fill Speed's ride in F1. "Coming from the pinnacle of motor sports in Formula One, it's almost like a step down and not exactly a win-win situation," he said of the stateside open-wheel circuits. "If I go in and dominate like Bourdais has done, it's 'OK, we expected him to do that.' If I don't, it's, 'Is this kid for real?' "

After reading what he said, I would probably never cheer him on if he did make his way to the ICS.

Before anyone says "we have discussed this ad nauseam on here" I tried to do a search and came up with an error report.

[Gomer Simpson]

Before anyone says "we have discussed this ad nauseam on here" I tried to do a search and came up with an error report.

It hasn't been discussed in awhile, and I'm sure it got past many people.

He'll end up here eventually, and you're right, I wouldn't root for him either.

[JWFan64]

Scott Speed does seem to have upset an awful lot of people wherever he's been. That said, he did overcome a lot medically to get where he's got.

[Seadog]

Scott Speed is not at the pinnacle of any motorsport, regardless of the level. Wow, a 5th at Salem last week in ARCA. Impressive(?)

[Corvette Jack]

Some would think anything beyond F1 is a step down. Nothing we would say would change that. It seems in AOW history there was a reigning F1 champ that came to AOW....what was his name....hmmmm (joking of course)

[Grinder-Tank]

He's right where he belongs. And he can race the rest of his career in obscurity. Red Bull needs to get back into IndyCar.

[goldie19]

So what is his explanation for COMPLETELY SUCKING in F1? 4 drivers, TOPS, have been comptetitive in that charade of a series over the past 15 years. If you aren't on a top 2 team, you are wasting your time and money. I know every series is like this to a certain extent, but I firmly believe 14-16 people in ICS could win a race this year. More than half the field. Does anyone believe there are 22 necks that could win this year, or 11 in F1??? Forget it.

This guy says there is no upside to running and being successful in ICS...has this guy EVER been successful, or did he just run some nice laps when the RED BULL AMERICAN IDOL contest got started?

[drdisque]

The decision to send him to try stock cars was made last season. If unification had happened earlier I can see things going that way, but since they've committed to him in stock cars, they're at least going to give it a few years and see how it goes.

[nascarnation]

Speed is showing that a Formula 1 driver, given a stout ride, can run top 10 (although definitely not contending for wins) in ARCA.

I doubt that many folks in Europe even know what ARCA is, but they might be shocked at the talent of the top tier drivers there.

[indyguy2]

Scott Speed is not at the pinnacle of any motorsport, regardless of the level. Wow, a 5th at Salem last week in ARCA. Impressive(?)

I've seen many ARCA races at Salem over the years, and 5th ain't bad for your first time racing there. JMO.

[blue horseshoe]

I wanted to root for this guy in F1, but couldn't. I remember an article in F1 magazine a few years ago where they discussed how drivers would skip Monaco for Indy back in the day - his response was something like, why in the world would they do that? I guess I can understand that perspective from young drivers outside the US, but not for an American open wheeler.