18/08/2010
NEWS STORY
Having finally surfaced after the debacle that was USF1, Peter Windsor is bemoaning that fact that F1 teams are not taking notice of American talent.
Having disappeared off the F1 map in the wake of the sorry saga that was USF1, Windsor has recently surfaced in his old role of journalist, though this time with online magazine GPWeek.
Having clearly failed to learn his lesson in terms of when it is best to talk and when it is best to maintain a dignified silence, he is highly critical of F1's failure to pick up on the "rich seam of talent" that America is currently producing.
"Many of the new stars want to make it to F1, as distinct from NASCAR or Indy," he claims. "They're committing to it early. Look at Alexander Rossi, for example; he has a lot of momentum behind him, he is racing in Europe - and winning - and he is living in Italy, studying for college in his spare time.
"Conor Daly, Josef Newgarden, Jonathan Summerton, Graham Rahal, Marco Andretti, Ryan Hunter-Reay, John Edwards, Charlie Kimball... It's a long list already, and that doesn't include the guys I've probably forgotten, plus some of the really experienced, polished drivers like Patrick Long and Alex Gurney.
"I'm surprised that more F1 teams aren't out there signing up the good young Americans as they come along," he continues. "It's only a matter of time before F1 returns to the States, so where is the downside in investing in a young American driver and thus increasing your chances of working with American corporates?"
Now let's get this straight, this is the same Peter Windsor who signed Argentine Jose Maria Lopez for USF1, indeed, the same Peter Windsor who travelled to Buenos Aires to conclude the deal.
"Securing 'Pechito' Lopez for our debut season has been a goal of ours for a long time," Windsor proudly proclaimed on the team's website after securing Lopez' signature... and his cash. "We've been following his career since he dominated the Renault V6 Championship in 2003 and we're thrilled to have him on board as we return America to Formula One.
"Lopez is a consummate professional and born leader," he continued. "The most revealing thing about his character was how he handled the disappointment of not racing for Renault after three years of testing with them in F1. Instead of moping around and feeling sorry for himself, he returned to Argentina and totally dominated the local scene, winning 38 races and three championships. He became a major star as a result and, in turn, the Argentine nation - a country where F1 is second only to soccer - has got behind him."
Flashback just three months to August 2009 when Windsor told Sports Illustrated magazine: "We've been offered well over three-quarters of our racing budget by two drivers already, neither of whom have raced in Formula One but both have won races in GP2. Both of them have massive sponsorship they can bring us from their home country. Ken Anderson and I have got to be very strong, look one another in the eye and say, 'No, we're not going to accept that money, we're not going to hire those guys because we're going to remain true to our convictions'.
"There are very good American drivers out there," he added. "To be honest, shame on Formula One and shame on American motorsport that some of these great young Americans with single-seater talent have not been nurtured more and given more opportunity."
As Mike Lawrence always says, follow the money, and that's exactly what Windsor and USF1 did. To think we've all forgotten the wretched mess that USF1 truly was is one thing, to think we've forgotten how the team turned its back on that rich seam of American talent quite another.