Who ever would have thought a Will Ferrell movie would ever be considered "prophetic," even jokingly? The absurd story of a French racing driver switching over from F1 to stock cars as the last remaining challenge is coming to life again and again. But unlike Jacques Villeneuve (or Colombian driver Juan Pablo Montoya), Jean Alesi isn't gunning for NASCAR. The former Formula One star is the first big name to sign on to the Speedcar Series.
The new racing league will pit 24 drivers against each other in identical 600-hp stock cars in 18 races over 9 weekends across Asia. We hope to get a glimpse at the cars in a few days when Alesi hits the Virginia International Raceway for the first test session on March 5-6. What we know now is that the specially-built cars will feature a tubular fiberglass chassis and power from 600-hp engines built in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The inaugural season of the Speedcar Series, which is backed by F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone, kicks off in November and runs through April 2008.
[Source: Speedcar Series via F1-Live]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nagmashot @ Mar 1st 2007 10:15AM
Jean Alesi drove the last 5 years DTM... like the most ex F1 race driver... last season 5 ex F1 race driver drove in the DTM. NASCAR is for not american F1 racer absolutly NO alternative.
23F1 race driver join the DTM (old 1984-1996) and new (since 2000) after their F1 time. How many did join the NASCAR?
Yaku @ Mar 1st 2007 11:35AM
The sequel: Cultural Learnings of Nascar for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
Joshua @ Mar 1st 2007 11:40AM
Uhm. I hope I'm just pointing out the obvious to most of the readers here. But clearly the car is in fact a tubular _steel_ chassis with a fiberglass body (ala CASCAR). I realize the original article has the same miss wording, but maybe a little common sense should be applied to posts?
Taylor Alexander @ Mar 1st 2007 6:32PM
I love how completely silly and over dramatic that second guy is in that second photo. The sad thing is, i bet he was serious about that pic...
-Taylor
olis @ Mar 1st 2007 7:39PM
Taylor Alexander wrote:
"I love how completely silly and over dramatic that second guy is in that second photo. The sad thing is, i bet he was serious about that pic..."
I doubt it. That picture is from Will Ferrell's movie "Talladega Nights", as the article mentioned.
olis @ Mar 1st 2007 7:53PM
nagmashot wrote:
"NASCAR is for not american F1 racer absolutly NO alternative."
Huh?
For of not american Juan Pablo Montoya who is of the F1 runners NASCAR is YES a alternative
Nick @ Mar 2nd 2007 4:53PM
I didn't know Borat could drive!