Allmendinger frustrated with NASCAR transition
Quote selected text Published March 5th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Veteran Scott Pruett had some sage opinion about AJ Allmendinger’s situation in NASCAR. “The reality is he is taking on the most difficult circumstance,” Pruett said, “as a driver who hasn’t been involved in the sport, who hasn’t been in these cars before and with a team that is brand-new to the sport. … That coupled with the limited amount of testing they let you do, all three are going against him.”
“He just needs to be patient, take his time and know his first year is going to be very difficult all the way around, and the second year he’s really going to start to have fun,” Pruett said.
A frustrated Allmendinger, though, said, “It’s like taking 10 years of what I have grown up learning, throwing it away. … That’s how different the cars are.” The first preseason test was an eye-opener. “I said, ‘OK, I can be a little off and be 35th.’ No, you’re a little off, and you’re 50th,” Allmendinger said.
“They say, ‘We don’t expect you to be as quick as Brian (Vickers - his teammate),’ although I know I do. … That’s just my nature,” he said. “I’m either going to make this work, or I’m going to die trying,” he said, “because this is where I want to be, and I don’t lay down.”
Bookmark to:
- Other teams looking at Allmendinger?
- Allmendinger back in the No 84 by Talladega
- Allmendinger trying to make move to the IRL?
- Allmendinger back in the No 84 car for Talladega
- Allmendinger out of No 84 after this weekend
Good for AJ!
Sorry, don’t feel any sympathy for him. If he feels like he threw 10 years away then he has to remember HE threw 10 years away. I’m not sure what he was expecting, but I’m not sure he’s going to make a race in these first 5 races. Right now he’s not even close to being an average cup driver.
I hope he does terrible, he threw away a bright open wheel career to drive a tubeframed relic of a not-even-close-to-stock-car. Especially after all the awesome opportunities given to him.
Stop criticizing the poor guy…it was his decision to move to cup
not you so let him deal with it. He did make a tough choice..and
he might not make the first couple of races but if thats what it
takes to learn then just let him be and do the best he can
He sold out for money……
ok enough with the sold out and cracks on nascar the guy saw the way auto racing was heading in the us and wanted to have a chance to make a living at racing so he [AJ ] came to nascar he could have went to a team like gibbs or chip or even roush but he went to a new team that shows he is a risk taker and that trate is what makes a GREAT driver . I think he should have drove bush 1st but then I dont drive a race car for a living face it people like it or not nascar is auto racing in the U.S.A.