With one televised statement, Panther Racing’s Dan Wheldon revealed last Saturday that he’s looking for a ride in 2011. Rumors had been lingering about the 2005 Indy 500/series champion and Panther parting ways at the end of the season — and about Graham Rahal being a possible choice to replace Wheldon in the No. 4 machine.
SPEED Channel’s Marshall Pruett was able to get Panther co-owner John Barnes to talk about the matter. Barnes said that the current focus of the team is on getting together sponsorship for next season, which will then be followed by settling their driver roster.
But interestingly enough, Barnes didn’t rule out a new contract for Wheldon either as he cited his notable work with the team’s current sponsor, the U.S. National Guard. He told Pruett:
“There’s certainly a chance. I don’t know anybody who has ever done a better job to represent us as a team or our sponsors than Dan. We’ve had every kind of sponsor in the past, but what Dan has done for the National Guard is incredible. No one has done a better job than Dan Wheldon. We’ve stayed in the top-10 in points all year long; we’re ninth now and hope we can get to eighth after Motegi.”
It’s well documented that Wheldon is a strong oval driver that gets inconsistent results on road and street circuits. In a series that is dominated by all-around drivers, mediocrity in either discipline is instant death for a possible championship run. Wheldon’s gotten some decent results on twisties this year, including one top-5 finish (Sao Paulo) and four top-10 finishes.
But since winning the 2005 title with Andretti Green Racing (now Andretti Autosport), the Englishman has collected just one podium finish on road and street circuits over the last five years with Target Chip Ganassi Racing (2006-2008) and Panther. That came at Detroit in 2007, when he finished third for TCGR.
Wheldon has been a good asset to IndyCar for a while and his association with the Guard is fantastic. In my eyes, he’s slowly evolved into an ambassador role that Eddie Cheever and Scott Sharp used to occupy when they were in the series.
If the IZOD IndyCar Series was still dominated by speedways, Wheldon would be a regular contender. But as we all know, times have changed. Panther needs a driver that can fight for wins everywhere — especially at the Torontos and Mid-Ohios of the world.
In order to reclaim their former place at the top, they need a complete threat. Is Wheldon ever going to be that complete threat?
Based on past results, the answer may be no. But whether he stays with Panther or goes to another team next season, rest assured he won’t stop trying. He’s still got a few more seasons left in this circus.
