AJ Foyt did it.  So did Mario Andretti.  And most recently Tony Stewart.  They made it look easy.  Like anyone who could put on a helmet was talented enough to make it big. 

Make it big in Nascar.

Get the wreckers ready.  It's raining potential Rookie Drivers.

This year, Juan Pablo Montoya switched from CART to F-1 to Nascar.  He's taken alot of criticism, but he's on track to be rookie of the year.  (Remember the term "rookie"?  Losely translated, it means "Crashes a lot.").

Joining JPM was AJ Allmindenger, who hasn't been as fortunate in qualifying, but still manages to crash on occasion.  Allmendinger transferred from Champ Car to Nascar.

But waiting in the wings is an open wheel tidal wave,  the likes of which Nascar hasn't seen for, well, decades.  Fabricators around the garage are loving the job security on the horizon.

Sam Hornish Jr and Dan Wheldon, both Indy 500 winners, drive in the IRL for owners who field Nascar teams.  Neither has made a secret of their aspirations to the stock car  universe.  Penske has allowed Hornish to drive a few Busch races.  While Wheldon hasn't attempted a stock car race yet, his name pops up every year during silly season as a possible candidate.  In preparation for their Nascar rookie year, these two have taken to crashing each other out of their current series.  Not to be out done, Danica Patrick, who eyed Nascar last year during her contract talks, attempted to take the safety vehicle out in her crash.

Meanwhile, displaced Formula One drivers are looking to break into Nascar.  Jacque Villeneuve is shopping a ride, even though he has "retired" from F-1.  Scott Speed, who was crashed against a wall in a physical spat with his F-1 owner, is likely to drive for Red Bull in Nascar.

The Newman/Haas/Yates merger opens the door for Champ Car drivers.  If Sebastian Bourdais finds F-1 too stoggy for his tastes, he can slip into a Ford any time. 

This list doesn't even take into account the open wheel drivers who are waiting in support series (with development deals) to get into Nascar's top series:  Tim McCreadie, Josh Wise, Bryan Clauson, Brady Bacon, and Kevin Swindell.

Add these names to the "displaced" and non-qualifying Nascar drivers of Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek, Boris Said, Patrick Carpentier, John Andretti, Regan Smith, Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace, and Ricky Craven.

Nascar has 43 starting spots.  And a crop of drivers anxious to get their shot at the top.  Let's hope their learning curve is more like Stewart, and less like the typical rookie.