Washed up F1 drivers flock to NASCAR

UPDATE A reader asks, Dear AutoRacing1.com, Why is it that not a single NASCAR driver has ever won an open wheel race? And I am not talking about guys like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti, and Juan Montoya – they are all open wheel drivers who went to NASCAR and won. I have yet to see a driver that came up through the stock car ranks, won in NASCAR and then won an open wheel race. I cannot think of a single one. Are NASCAR drivers that inferior? Mordichai Rosen, LA, California.

Dear Mordichai, We cannot think of any either. Driving a stock car is not easy, car control while letting the tail hang out is key. Is it because they are inferior that they have never won in open wheel, or just afraid to try and fail, and in the process damage their pristine image? Mark C.

04/03/11

Not fast enough to win in F1, Piquet is having a go at NASCAR

What do Scott Speed, Nelson Piquet Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya, and now Kimi Raikkonen all have in common? They are drivers who could no longer cut it in F1 and had to resurrect their careers in NASCAR where the France family monopoly on USA racing is flush with money.

"It'd be kind of neat if Mr. Schumacher (another F1 driver well beyond his prime) would come over and give it a try," Dale Earnhardt said with a laugh Saturday. "We'd all be thrilled to see that. Whether you thought it was a great (thing) or right or wrong, we'd all be watching.

"It's neat to see some of those guys have interest in our sport, because there's definitely such a big difference between what we do in America and what happens in Europe. They have such an appreciation for what they're doing. We're very proud of what we do. It's cool when the two get to check each sport out. It's nice to see their impression of our sport — often a lot more intricate and impressive to them than they first assumed."

Rest assured that no top F1 drivers is coming over to NASCAR anytime soon. Only the washed up ones.