rpm.espn.com: Comments on CART drivers

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Tuesday, January 7
Updated: January 15, 6:01 PM ET

Comments on CART drivers
ESPN.com

We spotlighted CART drivers Bruno Junqueira and Max Papis. Here are your thoughts on their '02 campaigns and prospects for next season:

Bruno proved that he could be competitive his rookie year, and he was even better last season. It's great that he will be driving for Newman-Haas in 2003. There is going to be SO MUCH pressure on him to win the title, and I don't know if he can win it. Look at what happened to Kenny Brack last year! Plus, there are so many new people coming into CART next year ... but even if he doesn't win the championship, I'm sure he will continue to be very successful.

Natalie Krause
Indianapolis

Bruno should excel more with Newman-Hass due to a more positive and encouraging atmosphere. Ganassi did more harm to the guy's confidence than good. As for Papis, this will be a tough year for him with a new team, however that's where he excels the most. Looking back, with almost zero resources last season, he did a terrific job until the team went bust. Mr. Pook should have helped Sigma with finances instead of Ganassi who took the money and ran to the IRL.

John Mylenek
Howell, Mich.

Bruno will be the CART champion in '03 but not without winning some tough races. Competition next year will be much better than most think with the addition of some world class road racers. Two thumbs up to Bruno for sticking with CART. He realizes that the only road through America to F1 is through CART. Anyone with other hopes is just fooling themselves. Sorry Dario and Helio, no F1 team is going to want a driver who spent the last season driving in circles.

Andy Lorensen
Urbana, Ohio

Bruno will absolutely dominate CART in 2003 and will be in a better F1 ride than da Matta in 2004. Bruno has F1 testing experience and will leapfrog da Matta and Villeneuve in F1 in 2004. I predict he will replace David Coulthard at McLaren and he and Kimi will become a Prost/Senna quality super team and take over when Michael Schumacher retires. Together Bruno and Kimi will save Formula One. You heard it here first.

Paul Fogel
Kansas City, Mo.

Max Papis deserves a CART ride. The team owners would be crazy not to consider him. Max Papis is all about emotion. He gives everything he has, and then some. He is also a very personable human being, which is great for the fans.

Robert Karr
Columbus, Ohio

I surely hope that 'Mad Max' gets a ride in 2003. First, he's a great driver and deserves a full-time ride with a competitive organization. Second, he has a great personality, which CART should use to promote the series. And finally, CART needs drivers with name recognition, and Max certainly has that. Giving him a seat will be a win-win-win situation for all concerned.

George Fiori
Anderson, S.C.

Mad Max proved that he can be competitive regardless of what team he is on with his performance in 2002. On an underfunded Sigma Autosports team, he was able to put together a string of top-five finishes and was always competitive, unlike the vast majority of small-money teams in CART over the past seasons. Even running Adrian Fernandez's car, which is like sleeping in someone else's bed, he ran well. If Max had run the whole season, he would have won the championship, hands down. As far as 2003 goes, Max has shown that if you just put a steering wheel in his hands, he'll take the car attached to that steering wheel to the head of the field week in and week out,

Jesse Cassino
Tacoma, Wash.

Aside from his obvious, outstanding talent in the car, Max is also the kind of enthusiastic character that makes the unusual accessibility to the drivers at CART events so much fun (F1 should be so lucky as to have a few like him). Max belongs in CART, and -- unlike many who paid lip service to "wanting to stay there" but followed the cash to the IRL -- I believe that HE believes in CART and has a genuine desire to help it flourish again. It will be a huge disappointment if no one steps up to the plate and gives him a quality ride for 2003.

Len Mattson
Chicago

It took da Matta the better part of his rookie season with Newman-Hass Racing to acclimate and gain the consistency he needed to win the championship in 2002 (although he looked pretty good right out of the chute in 2001). I think it will take Junqueira at least that long. Maybe next year, Bruno? And, please, no more temper tantrums this year!

Michael McGill
San Diego, Calif.

Max should NOT get a ride in 2003, his attitude toward CART when he said CART needs him more then he needs CART was proof his attitude is that of a has-been driver.

Ken Seveson
Indianapolis

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