In the ’80s, Indy car racing and Formula One was considered the top rung on the racing ladder. Now NASCAR is the destination for the best drivers including Formula One drivers that have gravitated to NASCAR. They have come to NASCAR for several reasons but the main reason is safety.
Indy 500 champ Sam Hornish Jr. and Fomula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya are the two latest open wheel sensations to make the move to NASCAR. Montoya has been the most successful of the two but neither has set the world on fire in NASCAR.
Danica Patrick has already dabbed her foot in the water and she has met limited success. Her fourth place finish in Las Vegas was her best finish of her NASCAR career and when she returned to Indy car racing in March she was in the top ten in points.
The next driver that is most likely to make the jump is Ryan Hunter Reay or Graham Rahal. They have the potential to bring sponsorship and they both have talent. Chip Ganassi and Roger Penske have teams in NASCAR and IRL and both owners could produce the next Indy car transplant in NASCAR. Look for Ganassi to groom Scott Dixon and Penske to groom Ryan Briscoe or Will Power.