"IndyCar is seen as being on the same level as F1"

[cgy1]

Just came out of Will Buxton's mouth during coverage of FP2 of the Brazilian GP regarding the thoughts of drivers looking for rides in the F1 paddock.

[doitagain]

In difficulty to master? Perhaps.

[frif20]

And he also said that Nico Hulkenburg and Paul di Resta are looking at Indycar as a viable route as it appears both are being pushed out of Formula 1 to pay drivers. Both of these guys would be a nice addition to the Indycar field. But just like in F1....only so many seats available.

Also, Buxton said that Dixon tweeted Hulkenburg that he'd enjoy Indycar. Hmm....open seat at Ganassi.....

[ICS001]

I'll be very impressed if Ganassi has a current F1 driver like Hulkenberg switch to Indycar.

[Rossfeld]

These guys are only interested when they have no options in F1 and something like the #10 is available. Winning car + good salary = interest. Otherwise they wouldn't really care.

[frif20]

It may be true that these type of drivers are only interested because pay drivers take up the seats in f1 and they are on outside looking in. But people say they want talent in the series, and I don't think you can argue that Hulkenburg and di Resta are very talented drivers. I'd welcome either one of thse two in a minute.

[ICS001]

These guys are only interested when they have no options in F1 and something like the #10 is available. Winning car + good salary = interest. Otherwise they wouldn't really care.

Pretty much the same as it's always been then.

[frif20]

Pretty much the same as it's always been then.

It's not like Nigel Mansell came to the States to drive for a backmarker.....he came over when there was a top tier seat available.

[ICS001]

It's not like Nigel Mansell came to the States to drive for a backmarker.....he came over when there was a top tier seat available.

I've already covered him in the relevant thread...and as soon as he had burnt his bridges in Indycar in 1994, he came back to F1.

[albacore]

This sucks!
I really hope someone steps up and creates an all American strictly oval series to give us red blooded Mericans want we want!
-cap

[ColdSpiderGT]

Based on driver tallent, I would say yes. The car, no.
I would even say that the full field of drivers in Indycar is deeper than the full feild of drivers in F1 at the moment.

[Rossfeld]

I wouldn't.

They have Chiton, we have Saavedra.

We don't have anything in the Vettel/Alonso/Hamilton class. F1 has A B and C drivers, Indycar has strong Bs, C and Ds.

[Grizzlor]

Not all of them can cut it on the big ovals though.

[ICS001]

I wouldn't.

They have Chiton, we have Saavedra.

Don't think he's coming back in 2014 though.

[Blood-1]

Sadly that's a statement on how infested F1 is with wankers and stupid rules these days. Frozen engines, bad tires, DRS, and guys who would be lucky to make the field if the feeder series were combined getting rides.