You've hired the best Engineers, Designers and have a killer pitcrew.
You've got sponsors lined up down the road, all wanting to be a part of your new team...but now comes the hard part; who are you going to pay the big bucks to deliver the result on the track?
To figure that out, you'll have to see who's been hot lately and who hasn't. Not as easy a choice as you may think since you're trying to headhunt the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the one guy who you would want driving the car if your life depended on it right now.
A month ago, the guy at the top of your list was Lewis Hamilton. The rookie F1 driver had won the Canadian and US races and was sitting pretty with the Championship lead. Six weeks ago, it was Martin Truex Jr...that guy won his first Cup race at Dover and has since been a factor in pretty much every race. Two months ago, another name; Dario Franchitti. He'd just won the Indianapolis 500 and leapt to the top in the IRL standings. Prior to that it was Jeff Gordon...see how hard this choice has become?
Well, you can cross all those names off since I'm going to tell you who the hottest driver going around is...hands down. He's been riding a huge crest this past month and I have to wonder what this guy has to do to get the recognition he deserves.
Give up? Have no idea who could possibly blow those guys out of the water with his performances?
I'll give you a hint; he's from New Zealand.
Yep, that's right...the best driver in the world right now is none other than Scott Dixon.
Scott piloting his #9 Ganassi Honda IRL beast
You disagree with that? Let me give you some statistics then.
Scott just won his third straight race in the IRL series and has closed the gap to Franchitti from 60 points to 24 in that time. He finished second in the Indy 500 (behind Dario) and probably would have won the race had it not been cut short due to the weather. He won the IRL title in 2003 (in his first season I might add) and is the youngest winner of an internationally recognised 'top level' motorsport event (cars anyway...no idea about bikes) after he won his third ever CART (now Champ Car World Series) race at Nazareth when he was just 20 years old.
You want more proof? He's won the last three IRL races at Watkins Glen...big deal you might say. After all, he's from a country where road courses are the norm. That's all well and good but he won the 2005 race with Toyota power. So what? Toyota had the least powerful engine (by as much as 50 horsepower) yet Scott still whipped everyone...mighty impressive I think you'd agree.
Scott has nine wins in his IRL career...his last 3 have come in the last 3 races
I can see that you're slowly starting to believe me so let me give even more information. He also finished runnerup to Sam Hornish Jr in last years IRL Championship, outscoring his more highly fancied teammate, Dan Wheldon. And his record doesn't stop at open-wheelers either. Last year, Scott teamed up with Wheldon and Casey Mears to win the Daytona 24 hour race.
And he's no slouch with a roof over his head either
He may not have the high profile that a lot of drivers have...but he also doesn't have the baggage those guys carry either. He'll give it 100% every time he steps behind the wheel and anything less than first will see him work that little bit harder next time...that's the kind of driver I want. Oh yeah, and he's only just turned 27...so plenty of years left in his career.
Ok, I can see that you're nodding your head now so my work here is done...Scott Dixon is now at the top of that list.
Mind you, you'll have a fight on your hands to nick him off Chip...but Scott will more than pay you back.
Yep: Scott Dixon it is. Funny in the open wheel circuits you would think there would be the hottest driver with names like Doorknob, pagenut, or francheezy.. Interestingly enough the common names like Dixon , Hornish Clark, Stewart, Moss, Hill, Rahall, and Wheldon always seem to be the ones with the hotest driver capacity..Wonder why???
I'm sorry, you lost me at "imagine you're a multi-millionaire" LOL
Vey impressive stats! You should be his PR guy Tez!
Seriously, in the grand scheme of things, it is usually a combination of things, not just performance, that determines who the owners want to drive their cars . . . marketability, what are the sponsors looking for, media relations (well, with Nascar anyway), how does this driver fit into my organization, blah blah blah... RIGHT?
Tez - so, he's your twin brother, right? Second cousin?
Just kidding - he has been very impressive lately, eclipsing Wheldon at every track. Let's see if he can stay on his hot streak and give Franchitti a run for the title.
lol, I wish he was a relative....I could ask him for money then :P
yeah, there is a lot of things to consider when picking a driver....but if you pick a guy based on pure results recently, Scott would have to be right up there.
avatar got changed since I'm in a Nightwish mood lately....their new album isn't that far from coming out, lol
His goal is F1 but he won't go there unless it's with a top team (so Ferrari or McLaren basically). After all, why struggle at the back when he's a winner where he is? I daresay Chip has already asked him about a Cup ride....he's had 4 years with him after all, lol
That said, if he had won the Indy 500....who knows? He wouldn't have much left to do in IRL had that happened, but he's with a great team as it is....he doesn't want to give that up.
Tezgm99
He's an exceptional talent but I can't understand the reason he's not had a chance or quite possibly had a tryout with an F1 team ? He's good enouugh of that I've no doubt. As for Hamilton's tail off , it's something that I believe will be shortlived. It'd be too much to expect him to maintain that sort of momentum throughout the season.
The guy whom I believe is the most exciting talent within motorsports isn't a driver. It is to my mind none other than motorcylce racer Valentino Rossi. On two wheels he's almost unbeatable and is atop of the heap when it comes to the motor GP scene.
I've two new posts up written under the tophatal guise titled What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate ! And then there's This Ain't How It's Suppose To Be ....What The Hell ! Enjoy the read and let me know hwat you think as to the merit of the topics .
Dave; I know what you mean....these guys just have to push aside any thoughts like "oh, what happens if my brakes cut out here, or the throttle sticks open, or I get t-boned by someone?" Mind you, I think Rally drivers are the craziest :P
top; I think he might have tested for Toyota back in 2004....and yes, Lewis won't be down for very long, huge talent (and man was I ever happy to hear he was ok after that qualifying shunt....that was a huge impact). I just mean that, right now, the driver riding that wave of momentum is Dixon, lol
Rossi is amazing....mind you, Stoner isn't looking too shabby this year on that Ducati either. I must confess that I'm not into bikes as much as cars....I don't get the idea of skinning your leg to turn a corner :P
Tezgm99
Just the thrill and exhileration one gets from being on bike is worth the excitement alone. When living in the UK I made a point of attending the Isle of Man TT races. And also the the Grand Prix races at the hieght of Kenny Rogers' and Barry Sheen's heydays. At the time those two were the supreme riders on the circuit.
Check out my two new posts titled What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate and then This Ain't How It's Suppose To Be ...What The Hell !
Let me know what you think as to the merits of the topics raised. I look forward to reading your comments.
Tez is a rare creature; an Australian who was living in New Zealand before moving to Canada. He's also a Civil Engineer who is hoping to spend his Monday to Friday sitting in front of a computer surfing the inter...uh, working hard for an Engineering Consultant or Contractor when he finds a job. His heart is torn between his two loves; F1 and NASCAR.
Due to his high interest in those, his blogs will likely focus on them with the occasional foray into sports that don't get much (if any) mention on this website. All blogs and/or comments will more than likely have his usual dollop of sarcasm and general Aussie spin on them.
Amazingly, he also managed to score 2 MiB nominations on consecutive days (August 5 & 6, 2007) after announcing he had been keeping track of them...he's considering hiding under his bed as a result.
