13 of 22 entries (59%) for Chicago are Americans

[Danny Noonan]

Any of the malcontents care to guess what the number would be had the IRL not been created?

[IndyIRLman]

2 of the Americans racing this week are filling in for foreign drivers though.

I have often wondered how many Americans would be driving in CART had there not been a split.

[BSJracing]

The former occupants had a Americans in the field % of 15.789 this weekend in Denver, and that's if Geoff Boss is American.

[IndyIRLman]

Originally posted by BSJracing
and that's if Geoff Boss is American.

he is

[FishBurger]

4 of the 22 entered are drivers that most short track fans had actually heard of before they occupied seats in CART or IRL equipment. Maybe we need to diversify our racing interests. Naw, I'd get lonesome at one of those club formula races.

Note: Please note winking smilies in above post when considering your FB roasting.

[IndyMJH]

It'll be 0% once the IRL starts road racing!

[akimbo]

Originally posted by IndyMJH
It'll be 0% once the IRL starts road racing!

Seems unlikely. Only two of those Americans at Chicago aren't road racers; Sarah and Aj IV (not sure about Carpenter). The rest cut their racing teeth road racing.

I think it is fair to say that if there were not the current 41 Ow seats that CART and the IRL now offer that a good number of these drivers would not be in a seat, especially if the series requires both left and right turns. When OW racing gets back to 20-25 seats it will be interesting to see who gets a seat where. I doubt that even if the IRL never goes roadracing that we will see many more than 2 drivers in the series without road racing background.

[Racewriter]

Originally posted by akimbo
Seems unlikely. Only two of those Americans at Chicago aren't road racers; Sarah and Aj IV (not sure about Carpenter). The rest cut their racing teeth road racing.

Foyt IV is a formula car club racer. He has two lifetime attempts in oval machinery (Silver Crown). Neither was successful - one DNQ, one 19th place.

[rodneyh]

I think next year will be a much more tell-tale sign to compare the impact of the IRL to pre 96.

If CART folds, then you’ll be looking at about 25 or so drivers in Indystyle racing compared to the 40-50 the last 8 years. During the early 90’s, Indycar had around 10-12 Americans at events.

Next year, drivers like Adrian Fernandez, Bruno, Carpentier, Jourdain Jr, Servia will be needing a job. Funding or stting up a ride shouldn’t be too difficult

[EdJVuky]

thats not nearly enough........it needs to be about 85% American.

[NoviVespa]

Ed Carpenter cut his teeth in oval racing in USAC, Silver Crown and Sprints. Midgets I don't know. But he has driven in the Infinity Pro Series for two years.

[richie]

Originally posted by NoviVespa
Ed Carpenter cut his teeth in oval racing in USAC, Silver Crown and Sprints. Midgets I don't know. But he has driven in the Infinity Pro Series for two years.

I remember his first USAC Midget race at the 16th St. Speedway in 1998 where he was driving the black & yellow Pennzoil #3. I also think I saw him the year before at 16th Street in a winged mini-sprint. Also got his first career USAC win in a midget at the Louisville Motor Speedway in May 1999.

[NDGator]

Roger hired an American driver with oval experience as his last port of call.

I think that speaks volumes.

Now where is the next Sam Hornish hiding?

[doby]

Originally posted by IndyIRLman
he is

The American version of Norberto Fontana.

[Cygni]

"13 of 22 entries (59%) for Chicago are Americans"

Ok. Is this where you get a cookie?

Also, lets note that of the Americans in the field, only 1 is in the top 5, and only 3 in the top 10 in points.