I writing this on a plane going on holiday, reading an article in Autosport magazine about American Indy Car/Nascar/Grand-Am team Chip Ganassi Racing (the team won championships for Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti in Champ cars/Indy cars). Last season Chip Ganassi Racing won the big three races in America, Daytona 500, Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400. And my theory will be what if? ... If Chip Ganassi Racing was the thirteen team in Formula one?
So this is a fantasy, so there will not be another USF1 team. If I'm acting god Chip Ganassi Racing wouldn't be in Formula one until 2013 when possibility of the engines reducing from the 2.4 litre V8s to 1.6 litre, 4 cylinder turbos. My thoughts will be:
- Time to build a team?
- Budget?
- Are they going to build their own chassis or are manufacture going to build the chassis?
- Drivetrain (engine)?
- Sponsors?
- Drivers?
- End of first season?
First of all you need time, to build the right team. Such as chassis, drivetrain, people, base (North Carolina more than likely, also you need a base in Europe) contracts and so forth. You need time to build a Formula 1, need more time to preperate such as a new team like Lotus Racing last season (six months to get ready). So a new team to get ready for a first season you need more than 18 months. So the FIA needs to confirm this team in Sept 2011 to get ready for the 2013 season.
Second is budget, a team like Virgin Racing had the budget in the range of £40million. While a established team such as Williams has a budget around £65million. So for a team like Chip Ganassi Racing a budget of £55-60million will be good for a first season to compete with.
Next is chassis, in the states a team like Chip Ganassi Racing uses Dallara in Indy and for Grand-Am they use a Riley chassis for that series. For Formula one they could goto Dallara chassis or Lola or even ask Former Toyota F1 team to build he chassis. But I doubt that Ganassi will build their own chassis. So more than likely someone else to build their chassis.
Engine deal could a mind-field in this part. With the 1.6 litre four cylinders turbo coming in, it could be any guess. Return of BMW, Honda, Porsche or Toyota (if they ever come back), looking at Mercedes, Renault or Cosworth. Or how about Ferrari, this might shout Ferrari having a customer engine deal with Chip Ganassi Racing with selling Ferrari brand in America giving more profit. So more than likely a Ferrari 1.6 litre turbo in the back of the car.
Sponsors, I wouldn't be surprise that Chip Ganassi Racing will bring in his usual sponsors coming into Formula one which are usually sponsoring his teams in Indy/Nascar/Grand-Am such as Target, Engerizer and Telmex, wouldn't be a surprise there.
Drivers, I doubt it you will see the likes of Dario Franchitti or a driver who got Grand Prix experience such as Juan Pablo Montoya they will possibly too old being in a Formula one car. But I wouldn't doubt that a driver like Graham Rahal or a Charlie Kimbell coming into F1. Or even with sponsorship with Telmex bringing in Sergio Perez. Driver line up more than likely with Graham Rahal and Sergio Perez.
So with a budget of £60million, Dallara chassis, Ferrari engines, big sponsors, Rahal and Perez as drivers. So the end of debut season my fantasy perdition: possibly a few points for Rahal and Perez. And a top 10 in the constructors championship for Chip Ganassi Racing. Now focusing onto their second season into Formula one, focusing getting top 10 finishing more considency.
Maybe we do more fantasy racing into these blogs once and a while. Bye for now.
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