Why isn't Buddy FT in the ICS?

[Foxracer]

Can some one please bring me up to speed as to why Buddy doesn't have a full time ride in the ICS or how he lost his old ride? The man still seems to have a few years left in him. After what I saw on bump day, I think any team that is new to the Indy car series or have a driver not cutting it would be fools not to look at him.

[ovalfan01]

I am still trying to figure out why teams seem so high on a guy like Scheckter yet turn a blind eye towards Lazier. I'm sure you're going to get some feedback here about his age and inability to handle street and road courses. But I agree with you....for the transitioning teams, he would be an asset to help them catch up on ovals. But then again, someone would have to actually pay him to race and we all know how that works out.

[sf-indy-fan]

Fox, that would have been a legitimate question 5 years ago, but, sadly, Buddy's get into his late 30's, and I think there's a perception amongst OW team owners that OW is a young man's game and they just don't want to take a chance on a driver Buddy's age. Mind you, I said "perception", not "reality", because I think Buddy (unlike Al Jr.) has kept himself in pretty good shape and is still pretty sharp and could still win races in the right equipment.

[MichaelP]

I can think of about 4 or 5 times that likely would be in the show if they had gone with Buddy or Jaques instead of the drivers they went with (and one team that's in that likely wouldn't be without him).

[jonesi]

Well he'll be 41 this year. Most sponsors want a younger driver/spokesperson. He's a competent driver but you can only pull off miracles with mediocre to POS equipment so long. Over the last few years with shrinking fields with tighter budgets he lost out to new drivers who brought $ and/or sponsors.

[Brent_the_Lazier_fan]

Well he'll be 41 this year. Most sponsors want a younger driver/spokesperson. He's a competent driver but you can only pull off miracles with mediocre to POS equipment so long. Over the last few years with shrinking fields with tighter budgets he lost out to new drivers who brought $ and/or sponsors.

And people think racing is in a better state today than in the past?

I'd love to hear what AJ, Mario, Big Al and JR would have to say about that.

I agree that the perception may be that racing is a young man's game, but the reality of it is that, every year on bump weekend, the teams that haven't made it aren't scrambling around looking for 23 year olds to put them in the show.

[Novi-]

If a guy like Buddy wasn't accepted by the elitist when he started, there's a slim to no chance it's going to happen at his advanced age and we all no where slim went.

[Kurt Cobain]

I'm sure you're going to get some feedback here about his age and inability to handle street and road courses.

That's it in a nutshell in my opinion, but I agree with you about being a huge asset on an oval.

If this were an all oval series, he would still have a ride.

[Rybred]

Has anyone at TF caught on to the fact that American tax payer money (National Guard) is going to support a driver that has yet to perform to the level of Buddy Lazier and yet members of Panther Racing have stated numerous times that Buddy would be their first choice if they had the money.

A friend sent the following to Curt Cavin, but Curt wussed out and didn't respond to it either directly or through his blog.

********************
Curt,
Vitor Mira is driving a car sponsored by American tax payer money and not doing a good job. I've read many times how members of Panther Racing feel about Buddy Lazier (it is easily found on their web site) and that Buddy would be their first choice if only they had a sponsor. I wonder if other IndyCar fans have discovered this ironic situation and felt the need to contact their representative in congress to ask why tax payer money is spent to employ a foreign driver that has yet to perform to the level of a Buddy Lazier.
********************

It’s time to call your congressional representative and ask why your tax money is going to a foreign driver when an American like Buddy can do a better job.

[pandora]

If a guy like Buddy wasn't accepted by the elitists when he started, there's a slim to no chance it's going to happen at his advanced age and we all no where slim went.

Bingo - We have the winning answer.

[Kurt Cobain]

If a guy like Buddy wasn't accepted by the elitist when he started, there's a slim to no chance it's going to happen at his advanced age and we all no where slim went.

My question to you is, who do you think were the elitist?

[grogg]

My question to you is, who do you think were the elitist?

Ask Jeff Gordon.

[Foxracer]

Thinks for the input. It really is a shame that someone with that much talent and knowledge is outside looking in. At the very least someone should hire him as a driver coach.

[cheeseczar]

I'd love to hear what AJ, Mario, Big Al and JR would have to say about that.

.

I guess A.J. says "Darren".

[Brent_the_Lazier_fan]

I guess A.J. says "Darren".

Pretty sure Manning isn't bringing a check...