Oct. 11 newsstand: Sam sputters & Dario's racing a truck

Sam's still undecided?
Yeah, we know, this is the worst-kept secret in motorsports, but Sam Hornish Jr. insists that he's still undecided on next year. He DNQed for this weekend's Charlotte race, and he's still failed to qualify for a Cup race yet. With results like that, I'm beginning to be inclined to believe him.

Anyway, what Sam has to say to the AP's Jenna Fryer: "Some of the Formula One guys, there is no where else for them to go and this was a place where they could have an opportunity. And Dario, I hear he had his deal to come to NASCAR for two years, and he didn't have a whole lot of success in the IRL until this year. So that may have been a case of `Let's go try something different.' But for me, this has been something that's always intrigued me. I always wanted to run the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400. And I know in order to ever have a chance to win, you've got to be doing it fulltime."

However, this makes it sound like his mind is made up: "I've tried to really stay with the IRL and do all the things I could do. I feel I can only do so much — somebody will replace me. It might not be today or tomorrow, but there will always be the next American driver. I think I've tried to do the best I could for myself, the league and open wheel racing in general. But sooner or later, I'm going to quit racing. I am not always going to be able to do it."

My feelings: He's probably gone, but his heart is with open-wheel racing. If he does go south, he won't finish his career in a stock car. But if he DNQs for the entire Chase, he might be in the No. 6 Dallara-Honda next year at Homestead. Sam has even said that.

Before we get back to cab stuff, let's look at real IRL news
If you're around Indy this weekend, several ICS and IPS drivers will be competing in the Mazda Robo-Pong 200 kart race at New Castle Motorsports Park. Mark Dismore built the track a few years back, and the 1.1-mile road course is first-rate (I know from experience, having driven on it), as are the facilities surrounding it. This race is a fun event ... Dan Wheldon & Mark Dismore Jr. won the inaugural one a couple of years back. Wheldon, Scott Dixon, Vitor Meira, A.J. Foyt IV, Scott Goodyear, Jay Howard, Robbie Percorari and Travis Gregg are on the entry list. So is track owner Mark Dismore, a veteran of several IRL seasons.

Seven drivers are getting ready to test some new toys this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. They'll be testing variable-rate steering and paddle shifters. Could it be a preview of something else?
Says Dan Wheldon: "It's always exciting to take part in the evaluation of a new venues and possible additions to the IndyCar Series schedule. I've heard a lot about the track and can't wait to drive it first hand."

From the official IRL News & Notes. Congrats to Ed & Heather Carpenter on the birth of their daughter, Makenna Alayne. And congrats to grandpa Tony George.

Congrats to D&R co-owner Robbie Buhl, who was honored for his work with Racing For Kids.

Buddy Rice is set to run this weekend in the A1GP race in the Czech Republic.

Dario is racing a truck
If it's embarrasing to watch an F1 world champion driving a truck for a living (because he has few other options), it's just as so to watch the current IRL champion and Indy 500 winner relegate himself to throwing a pickup around Martinsville, as Dario will do in two weeks.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram follows Dario around a bit, as well as Bryan Clauson, a guy who is exactly the type of driver ICS teams need to be looking at as a good, talented, young American driver to put into an IndyCar.

Dario does discuss a few things in a press conference announcing his move to the No. 40 NASCAR car. Says Dario: "I think that the IndyCar Series will get on just fine without me or without Sam, if he chooses to come over to NASCAR. It is one of those things. You see drivers retire or move on to other things and a young driver comes in and takes their place. I think the IRL will do just fine." He also talks about Dan Wheldon, now a part of the same racing family: "I don't want to speak or Dan here, but I believe he still has the goal of winning another 500 and trying to win a championship before he does anything."

Guys without other options taking on NASCAR
Like Patrick Carpentier, an IRL driver from a few years back. The 36-year-old has signed with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. And, of course, this continues the Southern spin that all of OW's drivers are flocking to Cup ... without mentioning that Carpentier hasn't driven an IRL race in quite a while.

The Arizona Star handicaps the OW invaders.

David Poole says the OW invaders will have a steep climb in stock cars.

One of my favorite bloggers is Diecast Dude, a lone voice supporting the OW masses at the NASCAR blog Restrictor Plate THIS! He has his take on this issue, and it's pretty much mine, just said better.

Helio is enjoying DWTS
So says the Kansas City Star.
Says Helio: “Trust me, everybody has been very supportive. Jeff Gordon has called. Jimmie Johnson. Mark Martin. It’s amazing. When it comes to the race community, everybody, even my colleagues, have been supportive and impressed. I don’t see any jokes around, I just see positive things.”

This week's DWTS update from IndyCar.com.

Old news, but
Infineon Raceway has announced its 2008 schedule, with the ICS race Aug. 24.

If you're around the Glen this weekend
Go see Sam Posey this Saturday in Watkins Glen. This story calls him a "popular" commentator, but you make your own judgments. No word on whether or not Bobby Unser will show up to dispute everything that Sam has to say.

And a great story to finish
Alex Zanardi never drove in an IndyCar event, but he was a great OW driver and would've been an ICS multi-race winner if not for the horrible crash in Lausitz. However, his comeback continues, as he plans to compete in the New York Marathon on Nov. 4, using a handcycle.