Red Bull driver search winners announced

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

http://www.speedtv.com/auto/?lvl=3a&cat=17&id=3524

Follow the link and see the finalists. All have won in America, but how will they do against the best of the international group? Joey Hand is the only one racing in single seaters in Formula Atlantic (F3000 that follows CART around) and is the only one I think with possibilities ina move to F1, while Scott Speed is the wonderboy of California and won pretty much everything he raced in - until he stepped up to bigger classes. We'll have to see, only four will race in the European junior formulae.

[nichosnz 0]

I think chances are (gut felling here) no-one from the first year will make F1 the 2nd or 3rd years juniors are more likely to make the move to F1.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Definitely these drivers if they make it to F1 it will clearly not be until at least 2005 in my opinion. Patrick Long and Joey Hand are the only ones with some European experience, Long having raced in British F3 but didnt do very well.

[nichosnz 0]

Now he has been given a second chance. So if year 1 is looking at 2005, then by my theory we will be waiting until 2006-07 for the first.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Sarah Fisher is also a candidate now for the first American in F1 for 10 years. It is currently rumoured that she will be running a test for the Jaguar team over the winter, a proper fullout F1 test. Cant wait to see what she can do!

[nichosnz 0]

The first American since 1993, the first Woman since 1992. But it it happens she will be the first American Woman ever.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Yep, it is true that Lauda asked her about a test but she didn't know if he was being serious. Will have to see if someone talks to Lauda so we can find out..

[nichosnz 0]

I have no idea what he will say, he's a bit of an unpredictiable character.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

It does help him though. With the whole new All American team thing saying they have a commitment with Ford Cosworth, Niki was able to keep that quiet for so long!

[nichosnz 0]

Is that were Sarah Fisher will be driving?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Could well be, why not? If she runs a good test for Jaguar (that is a big IF, as we dont know if the test will happen) why wouldn't the All American team give her a chance?

[nichosnz 0]

It would be a good source of publicity.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

An even better source of money, imagine the amount of female product companies or cosmetics companies getting into sponsorship! There is so much of the girl power thing going on right now here in the States as well..

[nichosnz 0]

At the moment all I can think of are Wella on the Toyota. So it is a huge sponsorship area to break into.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Michael Schumacher had the L'oreal sponsorship a few years back, but Wella is currently the only cosmetics company with an F1 sponsor deal I believe.

[nichosnz 0]

We will have to wait and see what turns up.

[batgurl 0]

All I can say is that living in NASCAR Land, I am very excited to think about the possibilities of having an American team. That means more people around me supporting and getting into the high end racing (the cars that turn BOTH left and right)

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I know what you mean! Im living in Cali right now and have all these NASCAR fans around me, only a select few I know who follow F1 in some sort of way! And half of those are my dad and his friend!

[nichosnz 0]

It's like that in NZ too, not for other motorsports just other sports, F1 is just too far away. Half the people I know who follow F1 were introduced to it by me. And the other half are joining me for a F1 party for TVNZ's (delayed) coverage of the Japanese GP.

[nichosnz 0]

The four winner to race in Europe have been announced, they are:

Paul Edwards

Grant Maiman

Joel Nelson and

Scott Speed

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Take my word for it, Scott Speed will prevail as the best of these four, he is an amazing talent and is the most likely to go into F1. He raced on the kart tracks I use as well, and just watching him was awesome.

[nichosnz 0]

The last of the 4 has been placed in a series for 2003 so they are racing in...

Grant Maiman -- European Formula Renault

Scott Speed -- British F3 -- Alan Docking Racing

Joel Nelson -- European F3000 -- John Village Automotive

Paul Edwards -- Formula Nissan -- Belgium KTR

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Grant Maiman and Scott Speed probably got the best of the deals. Speed definitely got an excellent deal to be racing with a top team in British F3! There is no better steppingstone to F1 than British F3, though European Formula Renault is great as well.

[nichosnz 0]

Yes, F3000 appears to be largely overlooked these days, by the F1 teams.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

That is true, Justin Wilson won the series and has so far not got a proper chance at F1. Sebastian Bourdais might get one, while Tomas Enge ruled himself out with the failed dope test.