2008 NASCAR Rookies?

May be...

I do believe the COT is part of the equation and not a lack of talent. Remember how awful JPM was last year even in the "old" car except on road courses? Remember all the wrecks he caused? He didn't exactly make a brilliant entrance into NASCAR either although he did show signs of it at times. This new car has to be tough. We see even the regulars having a difficult time. Remember how bad Roush was last year with the COT. Look at them this year! I think the learning curve for the rookies coming from open-wheel is a lot steeper than they thought. Let's re-evaluate them with four races left in the season and see how they are doing.

montoya and franchitti will never win in nascar . they know that is real hard . they should go back to f1 . montoya is doing a good job holding others drivers and causing accidents.. rookies 100%.

Not only was the timing off w/ the COT being brought in full time, but they all have one common factor as well.. DODGE! Which has improved, but lets face it.. they STILL have some work to do.

Dario is on a struggling Gannassi team that may be a distant memory sooner than later. Chip may just be an open wheel guy in the next couple of years. Even Montoya and Sorenson are running like field fillers.

Sam Hornish I am a little surprised about.. but when I think about it.. I shouldn't be. He's on a struggling Penske team that has almost turned the curve w/ that #12 team, but the #2 is still a little behind, and if you followed NASCAR over the last years you'd know that the #77 car has a horrible history as well.. (IE Brendan Gaughan)

Carpentier (again) is on a struggling GEM team, that has showed improvement w/ Kasey but Sadler is flopping like a fish out of water in this new car, and Patricks days may be numbered already. No feel for the car, not enough seat time, and not making shows isn't a good way to kick off the season.

And Villenueve.. I guess sponsor woes have stopped him from trying to progress in CUP but it all boils down to him not having a great understanding of the COT and not being able to run competitively enough to make the shows. I think he will be back in the future.


All these guys need more seat time in other series. (IE Nationwide, Trucks, or ARCA) They need to get a feel for these races, the different type of cars, and get some chemistry built with a crew chief that can understand what they are saying about the car and correctly adjust it. Until then, they shouldn't be in the CUP series full time. (Being outside the top35 after the 4th race of the season is EXACTLY why I say this)

What Sally B said.

yes it is slim pic kins, but the competition is so tough that they are all struggling. Regan Smith would be better if he where with a good team like Hms, or Gem, or Rcr. in fact i think he would do great.

I like Regan Smith and Dario.

Simple.
They are rookies in a field where the competion is as even as it has ever been.
It is going to be very interesting to watch this top 35 battle throughout the season.

Has anyone else noticed that the four rookies this year (Hornish, Franchitti, Carpentier, and Villenueve), all of whom are accomplished open wheel drivers, are all sitting outside of the top 35 in points this year? Are the cars REALLY that different, and did they pick a bad year to move to NASCAR with the COT; or were they all overrated in open wheel due to the lack of competition in their respective divisions? Keep in mind that Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon both where open wheel racers originally, and both have won NASCAR championships. Even Robby Gordon has shown flashes of brilliance between his typical flashes of ineptitude. I can't remember a year when ALL of the rookie class was ranked this low....thoughts, anyone??

You can't blame 'em. They joined NASCAR just when NASCAR debuts a new harder to drive car. If the difficulty curve from going from an open wheel car to a NASCAR wasn't difficult enough.

It is Harder to Drive a Stock Car that Is Heavier than Openwheel Cars and the Fact that The Tires are Narrower on Stock Cars. Not to Mention that the Stock Cars have the Engines up front= Less rear end weight over Open wheel Cars. It is not as easy as These Drivers are finding Out.-- I wish F-1 and Open wheel fans could Understand these basic principals!!!!!!!