Stuck in Neutral : Team or Driver?

Stuck in Neutral

Team or Driver?

Team or driver - which do you cheer for?

I have been pondering this question a lot lately, more than likely because of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s announcement last week that he was leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. for one of their biggest rivals, Hendrick Motorsports, in 2008.

But this is not just a NASCAR question, drivers change teams all the time and I have always wondered if fans stick with the team or continue following their favorite driver(s).

I asked this question to a friend of mine during the United States Grand Prix this weekend, and he told me that he follows the team.

"Formula One is a team sport, and like soccer, I follow the team," my friend Norbert told me. "That is why I cheer for Ferrari."

Meanwhile, a NASCAR friend of mine told me that the driver is what "Makes him watch."

"When I was younger, I would imagine being Ernie Irvin, he is someone you could look up to. I can really care less for the team..."

So I ask this to you fellow RacingOne readers - who do you follow: Driver or team?

Is this a NASCAR vs. Formula One deal,. where each group of fans thinks about it differently, or is this a personal thing (or possibly even a national thing, where people's opinion differs based on where they grew up).

Whether you follow NASCAR, Formula One, IRL, Champ, WoO (which I know has a very passionate group of fans - just look at their message board), NHRA, etc. - what do you think?

Published Wednesday, June 20, 2007 6:28 PM by Jorge A Mondaca

Comments

	dalejrfanfreak said: Well, I think in most cases I am always cheering for the driver. Dale Jr, Brandon Bernstein, Steve Kinser, and a few others are people i'll always cheer for no matter who they drive for (unless it's FORD). However, F1 is kinda different. I think the reason it's more of a cheer for the team sport is because Ferrari and Mclaren are ALWAYS on top. No matter who's driving, whether it's a rookie like Hamilton or a veteran like Schumacher, i'd say nine times out of ten you'll see a win by Ferrari or Mclaren this season. That's the problem with F1 though, the teams aren't as evenly matched so is more about which team you're on than the talent of the driver. Of course you could say the same about NASCAR but many more people have a chance to win in NASCAR than they do in F1. June 21, 2007 1:44 AM
	gordongirl said: Mostly for the driver. I think the idea of a team in racing is kind of absurd. June 21, 2007 2:07 AM
	BillyTKidd said: Well, I would say that normally people identify with the driver. This I think is especially true with racing like NASCAR where the drivers have such long careers. Careers in F1 for instance are much shorter, and, with the exceptions of Mclaren Ferrari and Williams, it seems so is the life-span of most teams. To simply say that it's because these 3 are always on top is misses the point. All three of these teams have had woeful seasons during the past 5 years. Only about half of the existing teams were around in their present form five years ago. It's kind of difficult to be loyal to teams that don't stick around. People are already speculating on Hamilton's future after F1. I think the team concept is more readily identifiable in F1. They use the same crew to service the cars, the cars look the same. There is one person actively heading the teams at the races. I think NASCAR fans like their teams, but love their drivers. After Dale, I still liked Childress and although I like Martin, Burton and Kenseth, I never really liked Roush. I know JR fans are a bit 'special' but 99% of them would follow him to a Hyundai stat-up team. He could race a wheelbarrow if it was a black #3 and still out merchandise every other driver on the circuit. June 22, 2007 7:08 AM
	EveOfDestruction said: You gotta cheer for the driver... in some cases I'll cheer for the team, as in RCR, but that's only because I LIKE all their drivers. If I didn't, I'd only cheer for the drivers I like. A TEAM doesn't win a championship(or a race), a driver and his personal team (pit crew, etc.) win a championship. June 22, 2007 11:52 AM
	Jorge A Mondaca said: Thanks BillyTKidd, I couldnt have said my opinion better myself. I do take a bit of an exception with what EveofDestruction wrote - a Team DOES win a championship...take for example your favorite organization. It has been a long time since RCR won a NEXTEL Cup championship - why is that? They have two championship caliber drivers and a real young talent in Clint Bowyer which will be one of the superstars of the future. They also have one of the best pit crews in the series - however, they havent claimed a Cup Title because the TEAM wasn't in order for a long time (something Harvick and Burton have both admitted). Yes, it takes a good driver and a great personal team, but it also takes the entire TEAM (Engine department, chassis specialists, etc). Agree? June 22, 2007 1:30 PM
	shanda said: Absolutely, you cheer for the driver, but you also support his team! Jr. will do great for Hendrick- he will do good anywhere he goes, and DEI is really going to miss him, they will have regrets. No matter where he goes, our family will always be his #1 fans, and we will support who ever he chooses for his team!! Now, Junior, we would like you to come to Hendricks- Minnesota that is - just to visit :) June 23, 2007 10:12 AM
	skullpuppy6 said: On first blush-driver, but then I thought about it. The only time I`ve had a love-hate within a team was/is anytime Kenny Wallace had/has a teammate. So after consideration-team. June 23, 2007 4:33 PM
	cwag said: Thats hard to answer especially with less teams just more cars per team......... For Example: I do not like Roush Racing and will not chear for any Roush drivers even though I liked Kenseth in Busch and liked McMurray until last season, and now that Mark is in the 01 Mark ain't as bad as I thought he was, but Kurt left Roush for a team I likes with the 2, but sorry I still don't like Kurt. I like Mears but not Kyle, Gordan, and Johnson all Hendricks. I am a Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin Fan but would seriously have to rethink it if one of them went to Roush. So it just all depends...... June 24, 2007 9:52 PM
	Extreme Horsepower said: I also feel NASCAR fans tend to cheer for a driver verus a team. While the pit crew, engine, chassis, etc...departments do have to work together for everything to mesh correctly, thus resulting in wins for the driver, you still basically follow the driver. Look at all the memorabilia people don proudly with their drivers name and/or number on it...that in itself should answer the question. I also agree with what BillyTKidd said, "I think NASCAR fans like their teams, but love their drivers." June 25, 2007 1:17 PM
	babysarah said: I definitely tend to cheer for the driver, but I also support his team. Being a Dale Jr. fan, I dont really care that he's joining Hendrick, I support him all the same. I'm not a huge fan of Jeff Gordon either; great driver, but after meeting him in person, I have no respect for him. Either way, I support Dale Jr and will continue to do so once he joins Hendrick Motorsports. June 27, 2007 12:33 PM
	bj8 said: I cheer for the driver and his team. we should support both this makes all the team and driver feel they are being supported by his fans. Dale is #1 no matter who he is driving for and he will be at the top again. Fans don't give up. bj8 June 29, 2007 12:11 AM

Stuck in Neutral

Team or Driver?

Comments

dalejrfanfreak said:

gordongirl said:

BillyTKidd said:

EveOfDestruction said:

Jorge A Mondaca said:

shanda said:

skullpuppy6 said:

cwag said:

Extreme Horsepower said:

babysarah said:

bj8 said:

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