http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=40218&PO=40218 In the above article, Bourdais makes mention of the fact that if he doesn't reach a deal with an F1 team for 2008, he would consider switching to NASCAR. Can someone please explain to me what the appeal of NASCAR is to these young, talented, drivers? I have been wondering this ever since JPM made the switch. Upon the retirement of Schumi, it was a perfect opportunity for Juan Pablo to perhaps win some races, but instead, he decided to switch to NASCAR where he will be only left hand turns for all but 4 races. My only explanation of this has to be $$, which can't be that bad in F1 if Schumacher is still one of the highest paid athletes of all time. Someone please explain this to me...
There's a lot of travel in F1 and you're flying around getting jet lag all over the place. JPM had a new kid late in his F1 career and didn't want his son and wife traveling all over the world because it does get tiring. NASCAR is almost entirely US-based with a couple races in Mexico and Canada. Not as much travel, more competitive (not as big gaps in performance from front runners to mid-pack), good pay, etc. I don't know Bourdais' reasons, but it could be one more more of the reasons listed above that JPM said. If Bourdais can't get a competitive seat in F1, what's the point? He doesn't have very many years left. In NASCAR, you can race into your 50s if you're good enough and the competitiveness of the car doesn't change as much every year (i.e. Renault performance drop). Still a lot of money in there as well and he'll be closer to home based in the US than in say the UK.
Well why would Juan all of a sudden start winning because Michael retired? The Ferrari was still one of the best cars, and Mclaren fired him. Was he supposed to start winning in a Toyota or something? Lmao, anyways, Bourdais might win his fourth Champ car title this year, so he's probably bored with the series. I don't blame him for looking for a new challenge.
I also think you've got more longevity in NASCAR. A guy that's washed up age wise in F1 can have a lot of years left in NASCRAP. Maybe one day we'll see MS doing some bump'n and grind'n
I don't think McLaren fired him. All I remember really was JPM calling up Ron Dennis early in the morning and telling him he would be in NASCAR. That was only a couple hours before his press conference that he would drive for Ganassi Racing. Surprising, to say the least.
Yeah but do you remember all the talk about Juan not being with the team the following year? All this talk was happening before Indy. It was said that Juan was notified that he wouldn't be with Mclaren the next year, and that Juan even offered to drive for free. I think it was pretty obvious that Ron was gonna sack Juan if he hadn't have made his move to Nascar.
I think his contract was ending that season, which is why he couldn't race for Ganassi in late '06 til Ron released him from that contract. From what I heard, RD low-balled him an offer for a seat the following year and he declined since Juan would have wanted more if he stayed. He's getting paid in NASCAR so don't worry about that.
Not only is he getting paid, he seems to be having a good time too! For whatever you think of it, there is some pretty tough racing going on there. Very competitive. Seems to me going over 200mph coming into a turn with 43 other guys 2" apart would get the ol' adrenelin and pucker factor going. Probably quite the rush! And good $$$ too.
