Sam Hornish

[talavak]

Sam Hornish is leaving Panther Racing. Not sure if anyone cares but I think he is a remarkable driver and Panther seens to give him a good setup every race. Just a money thing I assume.

[pk500]

Re: Sam Hornish

Talavak:

You are correct on all accounts, sir.

The big question now is where Sam will head. There are only three teams in the IRL right now that can afford him: Penske, Andretti Green and Ganassi. And Penske has said he's not fielding three cars, so I don't see a home for Sam there unless Gil retires. Ganassi GM Mike Hull said that team won't meet the pay demands of Hornish's agent, so it looks like it might be Andretti Green or NASCAR.

Man, I hope it's not NASCAR. Sam craves his privacy and enjoys living in small-town Ohio, both of which he'll lose if he goes NASCAR.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Sam Hornish

Talavak:

You are correct on all accounts, sir.

The big question now is where Sam will head. There are only three teams in the IRL right now that can afford him: Penske, Andretti Green and Ganassi. And Penske has said he's not fielding three cars, so I don't see a home for Sam there unless Gil retires. Ganassi GM Mike Hull said that team won't meet the pay demands of Hornish's agent, so it looks like it might be Andretti Green or NASCAR.

Man, I hope it's not NASCAR. Sam craves his privacy and enjoys living in small-town Ohio, both of which he'll lose if he goes NASCAR.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Sam Hornish

Talavak:

You are correct on all accounts, sir.

The big question now is where Sam will head. There are only three teams in the IRL right now that can afford him: Penske, Andretti Green and Ganassi. And Penske has said he's not fielding three cars, so I don't see a home for Sam there unless Gil retires. Ganassi GM Mike Hull said that team won't meet the pay demands of Hornish's agent, so it looks like it might be Andretti Green or NASCAR.

Man, I hope it's not NASCAR. Sam craves his privacy and enjoys living in small-town Ohio, both of which he'll lose if he goes NASCAR.

Take care,
PK

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Sam Hornish

There was an article in some sports magazine (I can't remember which), and it gave the impression that Sam really does cherish being an ordinary guy. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is pretty good friends with him, and Sam was saying how Junior was telling him how hectic it is in NASCAR, and he wasn't sure if he wanted the hassle of the NASCAR schedule. I'm not really an IRL guy, so I don't catch much of the races, and I don't know much about Sam Hornish. I do know that there are some people who would love to get Sam behind the wheel of a stock car.

PK: What do you think about this Tony Stewart/Chip Ganassi thing? If Tony stays with Joe Gibbs, does Sam Hornish come into the picture for Chip Ganassi?

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Sam Hornish

There was an article in some sports magazine (I can't remember which), and it gave the impression that Sam really does cherish being an ordinary guy. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is pretty good friends with him, and Sam was saying how Junior was telling him how hectic it is in NASCAR, and he wasn't sure if he wanted the hassle of the NASCAR schedule. I'm not really an IRL guy, so I don't catch much of the races, and I don't know much about Sam Hornish. I do know that there are some people who would love to get Sam behind the wheel of a stock car.

PK: What do you think about this Tony Stewart/Chip Ganassi thing? If Tony stays with Joe Gibbs, does Sam Hornish come into the picture for Chip Ganassi?

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Sam Hornish

There was an article in some sports magazine (I can't remember which), and it gave the impression that Sam really does cherish being an ordinary guy. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is pretty good friends with him, and Sam was saying how Junior was telling him how hectic it is in NASCAR, and he wasn't sure if he wanted the hassle of the NASCAR schedule. I'm not really an IRL guy, so I don't catch much of the races, and I don't know much about Sam Hornish. I do know that there are some people who would love to get Sam behind the wheel of a stock car.

PK: What do you think about this Tony Stewart/Chip Ganassi thing? If Tony stays with Joe Gibbs, does Sam Hornish come into the picture for Chip Ganassi?

[pk500]

Re: Sam Hornish

TarHeel:

I think the Tony Stewart-Chip Ganassi partnership is possible.

Remember, Tony drove for the Chipster in 2001 at Indy, his last Indy 500 start, in a Target car. Plus Ganassi is a brash, cocky owner who says what he pleases -- a perfect fit for Stewart. I also think Ganassi would welcome Stewart's "outlaw" approach more than Gibbs.

If Stewart stays at Gibbs, it's unlikely you'll see Hornish at Ganassi. Hornish reportedly wants $3 million salary for his first season, and Ganassi's IndyCar Series GM, Mike Hull, said the Chipster doesn't pay any of his drivers that kind of salary.

Still, Hornish is worth that kind of coin, and more. I would put Sam on any list of the top three most talented American race drivers, along with Stewart and Jeff Gordon. The guy is phenomenal -- the quickest hands I've seen in a race car other than Juan Montoya.

My gut feeling is that Hornish will end up at Penske next season, in stock cars. I think he'll run an ARCA-Busch-limited Cup schedule, along with being the third Penske driver in the Indy 500. Then he'll replace Rusty Wallace as Newman's teammate full time in Cup in 2005. Next year could be it for Wallace, who is in his late 40s.

It would be a logical move for Hornish. He would go into a top-shelf Cup team, where he belongs. He could still race the Indianapolis 500 -- his first love -- every year. And he could return to the IndyCar Series full time with Penske if Cup doesn't work out or he doesn't like it, as Gil de Ferran only has a few more years left in him, I think. And there's no better Indy-style team in history than Penske.

Just a hunch.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Sam Hornish

TarHeel:

I think the Tony Stewart-Chip Ganassi partnership is possible.

Remember, Tony drove for the Chipster in 2001 at Indy, his last Indy 500 start, in a Target car. Plus Ganassi is a brash, cocky owner who says what he pleases -- a perfect fit for Stewart. I also think Ganassi would welcome Stewart's "outlaw" approach more than Gibbs.

If Stewart stays at Gibbs, it's unlikely you'll see Hornish at Ganassi. Hornish reportedly wants $3 million salary for his first season, and Ganassi's IndyCar Series GM, Mike Hull, said the Chipster doesn't pay any of his drivers that kind of salary.

Still, Hornish is worth that kind of coin, and more. I would put Sam on any list of the top three most talented American race drivers, along with Stewart and Jeff Gordon. The guy is phenomenal -- the quickest hands I've seen in a race car other than Juan Montoya.

My gut feeling is that Hornish will end up at Penske next season, in stock cars. I think he'll run an ARCA-Busch-limited Cup schedule, along with being the third Penske driver in the Indy 500. Then he'll replace Rusty Wallace as Newman's teammate full time in Cup in 2005. Next year could be it for Wallace, who is in his late 40s.

It would be a logical move for Hornish. He would go into a top-shelf Cup team, where he belongs. He could still race the Indianapolis 500 -- his first love -- every year. And he could return to the IndyCar Series full time with Penske if Cup doesn't work out or he doesn't like it, as Gil de Ferran only has a few more years left in him, I think. And there's no better Indy-style team in history than Penske.

Just a hunch.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Sam Hornish

TarHeel:

I think the Tony Stewart-Chip Ganassi partnership is possible.

Remember, Tony drove for the Chipster in 2001 at Indy, his last Indy 500 start, in a Target car. Plus Ganassi is a brash, cocky owner who says what he pleases -- a perfect fit for Stewart. I also think Ganassi would welcome Stewart's "outlaw" approach more than Gibbs.

If Stewart stays at Gibbs, it's unlikely you'll see Hornish at Ganassi. Hornish reportedly wants $3 million salary for his first season, and Ganassi's IndyCar Series GM, Mike Hull, said the Chipster doesn't pay any of his drivers that kind of salary.

Still, Hornish is worth that kind of coin, and more. I would put Sam on any list of the top three most talented American race drivers, along with Stewart and Jeff Gordon. The guy is phenomenal -- the quickest hands I've seen in a race car other than Juan Montoya.

My gut feeling is that Hornish will end up at Penske next season, in stock cars. I think he'll run an ARCA-Busch-limited Cup schedule, along with being the third Penske driver in the Indy 500. Then he'll replace Rusty Wallace as Newman's teammate full time in Cup in 2005. Next year could be it for Wallace, who is in his late 40s.

It would be a logical move for Hornish. He would go into a top-shelf Cup team, where he belongs. He could still race the Indianapolis 500 -- his first love -- every year. And he could return to the IndyCar Series full time with Penske if Cup doesn't work out or he doesn't like it, as Gil de Ferran only has a few more years left in him, I think. And there's no better Indy-style team in history than Penske.

Just a hunch.

Take care,
PK

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Sam Hornish

Wow, THERE's something... you really think Rusty will leave Penske, or Penske will release Rusty? Where does Rusty head if that happens, in your opinion? He's been synonymous with that Miller-backed #2 for ages!!

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Sam Hornish

Wow, THERE's something... you really think Rusty will leave Penske, or Penske will release Rusty? Where does Rusty head if that happens, in your opinion? He's been synonymous with that Miller-backed #2 for ages!!

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Sam Hornish

Wow, THERE's something... you really think Rusty will leave Penske, or Penske will release Rusty? Where does Rusty head if that happens, in your opinion? He's been synonymous with that Miller-backed #2 for ages!!

[pk500]

Re: Sam Hornish

Heel:

Just a hunch, but I think it might be a mutual parting of the ways, as they say.

Rusty's son is a very promising teen-age driver. I think he's in ASA, Legends or ARCA -- can't remember. Wouldn't surprise me to see Rusty form a team for he and his son for a couple of years, stepping aside when his son is ready for a full-time Cup ride.

Again, just a hunch. But Newman isn't going anywhere at Penske, so I think Rusty would be the odd man out if Hornish came to Penske and flourished.

And Miller could decide to stay with Rusty, much like UPS has inferred it will stay with Jarrett even if he leaves Yates. There's plenty of equity built during long-term relationships with a driver, and some sponsors don't want to surrender that.

Take Havoline, for example. When I see the Havoline car, I still think of Davey Allison first, even 10 years after his death. Every time I see the Tide car, I still think of DW. M&Ms and Sadler? Nah -- that's Ernie Irvan's car!

Funny, though, I do think of Harvick when I see Goodwrench. That's because Earnhardt always will be the black No. 3, not the silver No. 29.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Sam Hornish

Heel:

Just a hunch, but I think it might be a mutual parting of the ways, as they say.

Rusty's son is a very promising teen-age driver. I think he's in ASA, Legends or ARCA -- can't remember. Wouldn't surprise me to see Rusty form a team for he and his son for a couple of years, stepping aside when his son is ready for a full-time Cup ride.

Again, just a hunch. But Newman isn't going anywhere at Penske, so I think Rusty would be the odd man out if Hornish came to Penske and flourished.

And Miller could decide to stay with Rusty, much like UPS has inferred it will stay with Jarrett even if he leaves Yates. There's plenty of equity built during long-term relationships with a driver, and some sponsors don't want to surrender that.

Take Havoline, for example. When I see the Havoline car, I still think of Davey Allison first, even 10 years after his death. Every time I see the Tide car, I still think of DW. M&Ms and Sadler? Nah -- that's Ernie Irvan's car!

Funny, though, I do think of Harvick when I see Goodwrench. That's because Earnhardt always will be the black No. 3, not the silver No. 29.

Take care,
PK