Open Wheelers. Are they really the answer??

As the silly season rumors begin for 2009, many people are trying to think of "Open Wheelers" that can come to NASCAR and make an immediate impact. Dan Wheldon's name has been thrown around, same with Helio Castronevous's name. However, the success or lack there of, for the open wheelers is what really concerns me about NASCAR's future.

Open wheelers have always tried to make the advancement to NASCAR. Mario Andretti won the 1967 Daytona 500 driving for the Wood Brothers and AJ Foyt won it in 1972, driving for the Wood Brothers as well. In more recent history, Tony Stewart has become a 2-time NASCAR Cup series champion and guys like Robby Gordon and John Andretti have had some success in NASCAR's premier division. Juan Pablo Montoya had some success last season driving for Chip Gannassi, winning at Infineon last season and NASCAR's Rookie of The Year title.

Even so, there have been a few guys who haven't had the same success these guys have had. Wally Dallenbach Jr was the 1985 SCCA Trans-Am Champion before trying to make a go at it in NASCAR. Dallenbach, however, had limited success. He had 226 Carrer Cup Starts and only 7 top 5's in rides that included, Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Racing and Petty Enterprises. Scott Pruett was another man who tried to make the switch. A three time Trans-Am Champ (1987,1994,2003) got an opportunity to drive the #32 Tide Ford for Cal Wells, in the 2000 Winston Cup season. He ran 29 of 34 races, failing to quailfy for 6 races. In those 29 races Pruett had 11 DNF's and only 2 to engine failures. The rest were because of accidents. Pruett's best finish in those 29 races was a 10th which he did at Indianapolis.

Now in 2008, A load of open wheelers have come into NASCAR and struggled. Sam Hornish Jr has been anything but impressive so far in 2008. Hornish drives the #77 Mobil 1 Dodge for Roger Penske in the Sprint Cup Series. He currently sits 33rd in driver points. Hornish has ran all 17 races in 2008, but in 10 of the 17 has been involved in a wreck. 2007 Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti is the driver of the #40 car for Chip Gannassi Racing with Felix Sabates in the 2008 Sprint Cup Season. Dario got injured in a Nationwide Series race at Talladega and missed 5 races. Dario has been a disappointment as well. His best finish in 10 starts this season is a 22nd which came at Martinsville, other then that he hasn't broke the top 30 in the rest of his 9 starts. Former Fomula 1 driver, Patrick Carpentier is the driver of the #10 car for Gillette-Evernham Motorsports in 2008. Carpentier has also struggled. He failed to qualify for 3 events this season and his best finish of 2008 was at Infineon Raceway when he finished 23rd.

All three had a lot of hype comming into the season but have failed to make the transaction to Cup. The pressure comming into the season was huge and for these guys to succeed at NASCAR's highest level with little stock car expirence, isn't only unfair to these guys, but it's unreal!

Owners need to give these guys some starts in the Nationwide Series before making the transaction to cup. With one year of Nationwide experience these drivers will be more prepared for the challenge that lays ahead of them in the Cup Series. But the owners don't give them the experience and their teams have suffered.

So as the 2009 Silly Season continues, I'll ask the question again. Are Open Wheelers really the answer??