Cavin says Wheldon is the hold-up

[Indy-hp]

Interesting:

Question: Haven't heard anything lately on some of these drivers' plans for 2006. Where's Scheckter going to end up? Is Meira leaving Rahal? Do we know what Panther's plans are?

Answer: At least for now, Dan Wheldon's decision is holding everything up. That, and the fact that the season doesn't begin until late March. Plus, there are major sponsorship losses at Panther and Cheever.

As for Meira, yes, he's leaving Rahal. I suspect he'll land at Andretti Green or Ganassi, depending on what Wheldon does. As for Panther, team officials have told me they're working on a variety of things that include Scheckter, Enge and Meira. It all depends on money.

[Bombardier R142]

Interesting, it seems that everybody loves Vitor. From the looks of things, he's getting the seat Wheldon turns down (or ends up at Panther).

[irlricefan13]

If he lands at AGR we could well see another Brazilian winner at the '500' and in Indy cars.
Then again with Honda on their side I have a feeling that Penske will give AGR a real run for their money in 2006.

[JoeBob]

Does Meira still bring Menard's backing with him?

Sponsorship tends to make you popular.

[meirafan]

Does Meira still bring Menard's backing with him?

Sponsorship tends to make you popular.

Yes, Menard's is still backing Vitor. I hope he lands at Panther with Schecter, but I know he would probably do better if he was with AGR. I just can't bring myself to like that team. They are premadonna’s. Vitor would not fit in with those big egos, or maybe he would because he doesn't have one.

[Jay J]

Vitor is perhaps the best driver to not win a race yet, but I wonder how the heck a Brazilian ended up with a long term sponsorship from an American home improvement company!?

Please don't take this the wrong way, because there isn't a lot to dislike about Vitor, but I'd like to know what the connection is between John Menard and him? I mean, ok he's obviously a talented driver, but why did Mendards elect to back a foreigner over an American shoe?

[silvercrown]

Vitor is perhaps the best driver to not win a race yet, but I wonder how the heck a Brazilian ended up with a long term sponsorship from an American home improvement company!?

Please don't take this the wrong way, because there isn't a lot to dislike about Vitor, but I'd like to know what the connection is between John Menard and him? I mean, ok he's obviously a talented driver, but why did Mendards elect to back a foreigner over an American shoe?

I don't have any inside scoop, but Vitor ran for JM a few years back. Replaced J. Lazier after TS ended his season in Pa. Vitor was fast, and always in contention. So maybe thats the connection.

[MLAIRL]

I also remember watching Vitor Meira during practice at Indy with headphones on watching the monitors during practice sessions when he had no guarantee of a ride. I vaguely remember someone saying that he was at every team related event and meeting and that impressed John. I do not have a link, I just remember reading that then having it visible confirmed when I saw him in the Menard's pits.

[Richie Racer]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=j>Right on. The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line. And now the finger points right at you, Mr. Wheldon. Hurry up and make up your mind already, as you are spoiling all our silly season fun.





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[TroySpeed]

Vitor is perhaps the best driver to not win a race yet, but I wonder how the heck a Brazilian ended up with a long term sponsorship from an American home improvement company!?

Interesting question.
The answer is, simply, that Vitor's personal manager is John Menard's right-hand man.

[Refutation]

Someone pry him out of a race car long enough for him to make a decision on a contract!

[Benson477]

Someone pry him out of a race car long enough for him to make a decision on a contract!

I imagine his mind works just fine where ever he is and perhaps he is using these outside activities to relax and sort it all out. To us his activities are for amusement but for him the decisions determine his career from now on.

I wish him luck where ever he chooses to go. He is a very capable young man and will excel in any decent ride.

[Jimmy Hendricks]

Too bad Panther can't run their best driver from last year (and no I am not talking about the Tomas's).

Cavin's last line tells the story.

[Outlaw]

Too bad Panther can't run their best driver from last year (and no I am not talking about the Tomas's).

Cavin's last line tells the story.

I was just gonna post the same thing. Does a person become brain dead once they become an IRL team owner?

Outlaw

[dog-ring]

Does a person become brain dead once they become an IRL team owner?

Outlaw

No but it takes money to have a team. Most team owners wouldn't last very long running on their own nickel...................