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'Almost-moves' in CART/USAC/IRL


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#51 gbl

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Posted 27 March 2012 - 18:14

Unser Jr DID test for Williams:

http://forums.motors...h...6884&page=2


Geoff Brabham was supposed to take the Truesports ride in 1989 but it went to Scott Pruett.

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#52 Nigel Beresford

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Posted 27 March 2012 - 18:24

Unser Jr DID test for Williams:

http://forums.motors...h...6884&page=2


Geoff Brabham was supposed to take the Truesports ride in 1989 but it went to Scott Pruett.


Junior told us that he upset Patrick Head by telling him the Williams' paddle shift system was slower than the traditional lever shifter on his Indy Car.

#53 HistoryFan

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Posted 27 March 2012 - 20:16

Al Unser Jr was (reported) to have been offered either a test or full ride at Williams in the early 90's but turned it down because he refused to miss the month of May at Indy.


Yes but I look for the other way round: F1 drivers with almost driving IndyCar


#54 HistoryFan

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 19:20

Klaus Ludwig had an offer from Penske in the 70s, but turned it down because of safety fears.

#55 Michael Ferner

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 20:51

In the seventies????? You sure?

#56 HistoryFan

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Posted 25 June 2012 - 08:27

Perhaps in the end of the 70s, the source is the former Yesterday forum on Adrivo.

#57 Michael Ferner

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Posted 25 June 2012 - 09:00

Even end of seventies doesn't make much sense. I doubt KL would have been on anyone's radar (let alone RP's!) before Le Mans '79. Outside of Germany and Touring Cars, that is.

#58 Tim Murray

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Posted 25 June 2012 - 10:33

He did do two seasons (1976/77) in European F2, but was never better than a midfield runner. Hardly a record to interest Mr Penske, surely?

#59 HistoryFan

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Posted 22 July 2012 - 11:43

Frentzen to Rahal 1999
R Schumacher to Weber/Fittipaldi 1999

(F1 Racing)

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#60 Ross Stonefeld

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Posted 22 July 2012 - 12:11

What is Weber/Fittipaldi?

#61 HistoryFan

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Posted 22 July 2012 - 15:07

Weber was rumoured to open a IndyCar team with Emerson Fittipaldi.

#62 Kart15

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Posted 23 July 2012 - 00:23

Rubens Barrichello driving for Rahal Team in 1997

Christian Fittipaldi was invited to race in the Indy 500 several times after he last open wheel season, but declined, he never liked the Indy Racing League racing format

Christian Albers tested for Walker Racing I think in 2003, and Jos Verstappen tested for Rahal Racing at the same year.

Tony Kanaan declined a drive for Ganassi in 2009 because he was caught by his wife with another woman, in their bed. He spend almost his whole fortune with the divorce and the money from the Andretti´s was bigger than Ganassi´s offer..

Johnny Herbert testing for Dale Coyne in 2001

Edited by Kart15, 23 July 2012 - 00:38.


#63 E1pix

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Posted 23 July 2012 - 00:42

Buddy Lazier was offered Christian Fittipaldi's ride at Newman-Haas, when Christian was injured in Australia in 1997.

He turned it down out of respect for longtime owner and friend Ron Hemelgarn, with whom he'd won the Indy 500 the year prior.

A noble move for sure, but I often wonder what might have been...

#64 Kart15

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Posted 23 July 2012 - 00:47

Bernie Ecclestone invited Little Al for a drive for his Brabham team at 1983, but Jr declined, he found better devote his talents for american open wheel racing..

#65 E1pix

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Posted 23 July 2012 - 02:17

Scott Pruett tested a Lola-Larrouse in 1987, at Portugal if memory serves, coming about 3.5 seconds away from regular driver Philippe Alliot's time earlier that day.

This was Scott's first drive in a formula car of any kind. Up until then he'd been a Trans-Am driver.

#66 Michael Ferner

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Posted 23 July 2012 - 15:56

In the fall of 1913, former Indy 500 winner Joe Dawson was announced as the new driver for the team of Michigan newspaper tycoon William M. Thompson, named "Anel" after his wife, Lena (get it? ;)). After running an old Buick for two years with local driver Billy Liesaw, Thompson was aiming high with a new 16-valve engine design and a star driver, which attracted the attention of fellow Michigander, Bob Burman, who was at the time trying hard to find (or, if necessary, build) an American car to beat the European challengers at Indy. In January of 1914, Burman and Thompson combined their efforts, and the new Anel was rechristened "Burman Centipede", the name refering to the number of valves in the engine (and, incidentally, showing a basic ignorance of either Latin or Biology...). Dawson ended up returning to his "first love", a Marmon, not a "works" car though, yet still managed to outqualify both Centipedes, but a crash early in the race virtually ended his racing career.

Addendum: just found a report (from January 1914) that Dawson was about to join the Mercer team in place of Spencer Wishart, who was said to be joining the Delage team for Indianapolis!

Edited by Michael Ferner, 23 July 2012 - 17:13.


#67 HistoryFan

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Posted 04 June 2013 - 10:33

Karthikeyan was in talks with Dale Coyne for 2013, as Stefan Wilson.

More almost moves at Dale Coyne from the past?

#68 Ross Stonefeld

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Posted 04 June 2013 - 11:27

Everyone?

You need to be careful about almost moves in non-F1 series, especially if the team is in need of sponsorship. Any driver with the right mix of funding and experience could drive for a team like Coyne. That's not an attack on them, just that they have a history of drivers that bring some money with them. Though they've been running pretty damn well the last two years.


#69 Michael Ferner

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Posted 08 June 2013 - 19:28

Ora Haibe announced on his arrival at Indy in 1925 (May 19) that he would drive Reginald Johnson's Miller, but a day later he made another statement that he "may not drive this car". Ira Vail eventually got the ride.

#70 HistoryFan

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Posted 11 June 2013 - 16:11

Gerhard Berger should drive for Tom Hess in 1985 (like Daly) if he hadn't get the contract with Arrows.
Also there was a team very interested in Berger for 1987

#71 MCS

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Posted 11 June 2013 - 20:29

Also there was a team very interested in Berger for 1987


And that was...?


#72 Kart15

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Posted 11 June 2013 - 21:49

Gerhard Berger should drive for Tom Hess in 1985 (like Daly) if he hadn't get the contract with Arrows.
Also there was a team very interested in Berger for 1987


Berger was one of those "100% european style racers" who you can´t imagine driving an Indycar.. Like Jean Alesi was before his Indy 500 try.

#73 HistoryFan

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Posted 12 June 2013 - 13:20

He was quoted in Prüller's "Grand Prix Story 1986" that he wanted to Indy in 1985 if he hadn't get the chance with Arrows.

#74 Zippel

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Posted 14 June 2013 - 03:31

Berger was one of those "100% european style racers" who you can´t imagine driving an Indycar.. Like Jean Alesi was before his Indy 500 try.


Alesi? He expressed interest in Champcar and even NASCAR before he retired from F1. He said he loved the way the NASCAR guys were so close to one another. Not sure why he didn't pursue those avenues but I'm guessing staying in Europe and racing in DTM was just easier for him.

#75 HistoryFan

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Posted 16 June 2013 - 18:43

Bernoldi 2005 Rocketssports

#76 HistoryFan

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Posted 04 August 2013 - 20:50

Are there German almost moves?

Frentzen in 1999 to Rahal and 2003 to Cheever (he also was pictured with a IndyCar in 1995 or 1996, any details?)
Ralf Schumacher in a new Team formed by Fittipaldi and Weber in 1999.


#77 ensign14

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Posted 04 August 2013 - 21:20

Are there German almost moves?

Kent?

#78 kayemod

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Posted 04 August 2013 - 22:13

Kent?


"Don't mention..."


#79 DogEarred

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Posted 05 August 2013 - 06:48

"Don't mention..."


I think you got away with it.....

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#80 Michael Ferner

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Posted 05 August 2013 - 09:40

He's probably not bright enough to understand anyhow...

#81 kayemod

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Posted 05 August 2013 - 10:20

He's probably not bright enough to understand anyhow...


Why do I keep getting the impression that he's asking us to do his school homework for him ?


#82 HistoryFan

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Posted 05 August 2013 - 17:45

I'm jnust 22 years old - so I don't know what was centuries ago.
I'm not rich, so I could not buy all racing magazines fropm past time (but I do buy some).
So I'm asking here for your memorys and knowings. I don't see the problem.
If you have a problem with that, you don't need to take time to read or post in my threads.


#83 kayemod

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Posted 05 August 2013 - 18:42

I'm jnust 22 years old - so I don't know what was centuries ago.


All we're asking is that you start making an effort to use the forum's search function, something that's apparently a bit of a mystery to you, and youth is no excuse here, it just looks like laziness to many of us. You keep asking questions that have been dealt with, often several times, before. Other than that, you're as welcome here as anyone else.


#84 HistoryFan

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Posted 06 August 2013 - 12:38

Jörg Müller tested for Bettenhausen in 1996

As did Kristensen.

#85 HistoryFan

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Posted 08 August 2013 - 11:36

Ratzenberger tested for Dick Simon in 1992, but turned down a offer to drive there.

Edited by HistoryFan, 08 August 2013 - 11:37.


#86 HistoryFan

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Posted 17 August 2013 - 18:42

Panis tested for Pat Patrick in 2000.

#87 HistoryFan

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Posted 31 August 2016 - 07:19

Tazio Nuvolari had an offer for the 1938 Indy 500. Any details about that?



#88 HistoryFan

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Posted 13 February 2017 - 15:07

Johnny Herbert at Dale Coyne for 2002



#89 HistoryFan

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Posted 06 May 2017 - 09:07

Häkkinen said he had the opportunity to drive the Indy 500 after his F1 retirement in 2001.



#90 PeterElleray

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Posted 06 May 2017 - 14:21

Who with?



#91 HistoryFan

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Posted 07 May 2017 - 10:21

he didn't say that but he said that he was invited by Zak Brown.



#92 PeterElleray

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Posted 07 May 2017 - 15:12

OK - when did he say this - i had assumed it was in the early naughties, Zak Brown's name makes it sound more recent?

 

Just interested.



#93 HistoryFan

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Posted 07 May 2017 - 17:38

no he said it was near after his retirement, so I think it's about 2002 to 2005 something like that



#94 PeterElleray

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Posted 07 May 2017 - 18:05

Was Zak Brown involved with an IRL team at that time or in a position to make such an offer ?



#95 Richard Jenkins

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Posted 07 May 2017 - 19:02

Considering this:

 

Brown took a sabbatical from professional racing between 2001–2005 to concentrate on Just Marketing International. In 2006 Brown returned to the Britcar 24 Hours race, winning his class as part of a four-driver team. 

 

I find it difficult - if not impossible to believe - that a sometime FIA GT series driver would've been in a position at that moment in time - to either fund a team, or fund the wages/move that would've led to Hakkinen racing at Indianapolis. 

 

This is what Mika said, but it just seems headline grabbing:

 

I took a look at Indycars back in 2002, and that included going to America and meeting with Zak Brown who understood the power of bringing F1 talent to Indy. I decided against it, partly for family reasons because I was not prepared to make the commitment to live full time in America, and partly because I had decided to step back from the risks of open wheel racing. I was at a different point in my career and mindset to Fernando and it was the right decision not to do it.


Edited by Richard Jenkins, 07 May 2017 - 19:05.


#96 PeterElleray

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Posted 07 May 2017 - 20:22

You got there ahead of me Richard !



#97 Richard Jenkins

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Posted 07 May 2017 - 21:01

What makes me even more sceptical about it is that Mika has a strong link to McLaren, now run by Zak. Now I like Zak a lot, but the line about him from Mika is very definitely a promotion advertisement for Zak as he is now, not as he was then.



#98 PeterElleray

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Posted 07 May 2017 - 23:28

Yes, and in being presented here out of context it will no doubt go on to become another 'fact'...

 

Nowhere does that quote say that Mika was invited to have a go at Indy by Zak Brown.

 

It implies he discussed to pro's and con's with Zak, that's about all. In itself it would be interesting to know how Mika came to be discussing it with Zak - i suspect thats where 'Just Marketing' comes in, which, in the light of your post is rather an ironic name for the company !

 

If you like your history to be spiced with a few verifiable facts, this thread and all it's cousins which seem to have awoken during the day are scary...


Edited by PeterElleray, 07 May 2017 - 23:39.


#99 B Squared

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Posted 10 May 2017 - 14:14

Some of these 'almost moves' must have been in magazines that weren't available in the States. I followed the series closely through many magazines; with the then informative Indy Star, Speed Sport News and On Track as the primary sources for the latest in reliable gossip. Some of these never made it into the U.S. press, to the best of my knowledge.

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#100 PeterElleray

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Posted 10 May 2017 - 21:25

Probably for very good reasons Brian.  ;)