Rahal Letterman Racing changes drivers

Ryan Hunter-Reay will replace Jeff Simmons in the No. 17 car of Rahal Letterman Racing, the first driver shakeup of the IndyCar Series season, team officials confirmed today.

[color blind]

You would think with Letterman being on TV nightly that this team would be rolling in sponsors,dough and talent.

Must be more to it.

[About time]

It's about time... They call him Crash Simmons for a reason...

[Zappatista]

i am just glad that they are putting an american in the seat, a good one at that. hunter-reay fell victim to champ car politics, not his driving skills.

[Dorothy]

Now if he could change his monologues to make them funny it would be a two for one!

[The Weatherman]

I hope Simmons finds another ride. For some reason my 3 year old is obsessed with his racing card and will be devastated if he's not back.

[YUP]

He suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks ! His future wife is hoooooooooooooot though !!!

[Ski]

About time wrote:

It's about time... They call him Crash Simmons for a reason...

Who besides you calls him Crash Simmons?

[AAA]

Please put Sarah "back marker" Fisher in his place. I believe she has slightly more talent then Jeff does.

Yes..Jeff's wife to be is smoooooking !!

[HinUSA]

About time wrote:

It's about time... They call him Crash Simmons for a reason...

I have never heard Jeff called that?

It is a shame that he lost the drive. There a more out there who are less deserving of a drive than him but I guess I can understand the team's position. They want to be challenging for victories. I feel they need a stronger driver than Ryan though to accomplish this. Time will tell. He will ahve a good race this weekend as it is a road course but the true test will be in Michigan

[Loyd Ruby]

I would like to see Danny O take Jeff's place. He can still turn right pretty well in turn 4.

You know..... the flyin Hawaiian !!!

[IMS FAN]

I think the Simmons deal was never meant to be perm

[news 13]

I saw Jeff's girlfriend crash a four wheeler on the news last winter at the Boat and Travel Show. Let's give her a try so she can keep the crash theme going.

She was more aggressive then Jeff ever was.

[Dick Jones]

You are correct, Danny On-the-gas was very adept at turning right -- into the wall!

Loyd Ruby wrote:

I would like to see Danny O take Jeff's place. He can still turn right pretty well in turn 4.
You know..... the flyin Hawaiian !!!

[Elwood]

They screwed up when they cut Vitor Meira.

[Headline is]

IRL driver fails in a series designed for him.

IRL turns to a ChampCar shoe for a rescue.....AGAIN.

"ChampCar... unintentionally propping up the lifeless IRL since it's inception."

For more info on the talented drivers of ChampCar visit:

www.champcarworldseries.com

[Indycarmike57]

Welcome, Ryan! Although I feel bad for Simmons. I think he's got talent. Maybe a change of scenery...

Hey, guys...leaving for Ear Falls, Ontario, then a fly in to Cat Island. Walleye to catch...see you on the 30th.

[Give it to Barron]

Alex Barron is the best IndyCar driver without a full-time ride IMO. It stinks that drivers like Fisher and AJ Foyt IV can get rides and Barron can't. It is appalling that Milka Duno can get in the car from time to time and Barron can't.

I would also submit that Bryan Herta deserves a full-time ride as well. And what ever happened to Greg Ray? His last seasons were bad, but he had real talent. Get the bottom-feeders out and give the rides to Barron, Herta, and possibly Ray. Get Fisher, Duno, and Foyt IV out of the car.

I think Matsurra will be pleased that Simmons is gone :) It was a hate-hate relationship.

I should have griped about this before since it has been a few weeks, but could AJ Foyt please stop calling them "boys and girls" when he tells them to start their engines? It happened two times in a row. What a classless moron. Legend behind the wheel--yes--but hillbilly bully outside of it.

[Homer]

Headline is wrote:

IRL driver fails in a series designed for him.
IRL turns to a ChampCar shoe for a rescue.....AGAIN.
"ChampCar... unintentionally propping up the lifeless IRL since it's inception."
For more info on the talented drivers of ChampCar visit:
www.champcarworldseries.com

"lifeless"? That's funny. While there are some talented drivers in ChampCar, my money is on the IRL easily being the surviving series. If you are a betting man, I imagine you can get better than 10-1 on your money in Vegas if you believe in ChampCar making it.

[IMS FAN]

Headline is wrote:

IRL driver fails in a series designed for him.
IRL turns to a ChampCar shoe for a rescue.....AGAIN.
"ChampCar... unintentionally propping up the lifeless IRL since it's inception."
For more info on the talented drivers of ChampCar visit:
www.champcarworldseries.com

Another way to look at it would be Champ Car drivers are seeing first hand the writing on the wall and are fleeing the series for the lifeboat that is the IRL.

[Ski]

Indycarmike57 wrote:

Welcome, Ryan! Although I feel bad for Simmons. I think he's got talent. Maybe a change of scenery...
Hey, guys...leaving for Ear Falls, Ontario, then a fly in to Cat Island. Walleye to catch...see you on the 30th.

hey Mike...
Have fun fishing. That's something i could never get in too. Tried fly fishing in the Adirondicks along with trout fishing. I also did some Halibut fishing in Cook Inlet in Alaska. Just not my thing I guess. I enjoyed pheasant and quail hunting in Nebraska though. But that was many moons ago.
Anyway...enjoy the trip. Good Luck!