Yes, we know… USF1 not USGPE….  As such we’re offering the following advice regarding news about next year’s season; don’t take it as fact, oh, apart from what we tell you obviously…

Anyway, USF1 is the brainchild of British journalist Peter Windsor and technical guru Ken Anderson. Many will know Peter Windsor for his after show direction of the F1 press conference, but for all their separate past success, no one can figure out if they’re going to make it big in this venture.  We know that a team is only as good as their drivers, so let’s take a look at the favourites for the race seats.

Adam Carroll

Sure, Windsor and Anderson have said on occasion of their preference for the talented Americans out there, but it’s very likely that Carroll will be making an appearance in Formula One, and out of the three new entrants, only USF1 have the budget to accommodate his enormous skill and publicity he will bring. Already announcing that two F1 teams have approached him about a drive next year, Carroll is the reigning A1GP champion and is currently leading this year’s championship. Of all the candidates, Adam Carroll has the most experience in single-seater racing and it’s almost certain that he’ll be taking up a drive in F1 next year, whether that be with one of the new teams or a more established venture like BrawnGP.

As you can see Adam scores highly with the Badger, taking a phenomenal 74% slice of the tasty freshly-baked pie.  Oh no Badger doesn’t fancy someone else’s chance now does he?

 

Jonathan Summerton

Competing in two series this year; Summerton is really proving himself as a driver with immense calibre. Earning Team USA their maiden victory in the A1GP championship last year, he has now moved to competing the Firestone Indy Lights and Atlantic Championships. To find out a little bit more about what drives his talent, Badger had a brief chat with him last week.

Graham Rahal

A serious contender for a USF1 seat; Graham Rahal has driven with the best in the American series and even beaten them. Former teammate to Sebastien Bourdais, USF1’s Peter Windsor has named Rahal as an interest. Though not achieving the success of peers Castroneves and Briscoe in the IndyCar series, he has managed to take two poles so far this season and has thus taken the record as youngest pole-sitter ever in the series. Rahal has awesome pedigree; his father winning the Indy 500 in 1986, but his failure to secure a championship title thus far in his career may make him a more exciting test-driver prospect.

Alexander Rossi

Of the 18 races contested in 2008 for the BMW USA Championship, Alexander Rossi won eleven; this put him in the position to take the title, being the first American to do so. But competing in the International Formula Master series this year; he has had less success with his maiden win coming in round six of the championship. Yet publicly, both Windsor and Anderson have praised the young American, meeting with him in March of this year. It seems that a test-role could be just around the corner for Rossi.

A.J. Allmendinger

Despite, success in open-wheeled categories, Allmendinger has so far failed to get to grips with the NASCAR in his recent seasons. Yet Allmendinger remains one of the most talked about drivers from across the pond. Initially refuting claims that he was interested in the Charlotte-based outfit, A.J. Allmendinger will undoubtedly be re-evaluating his options after the difficulty he has been having in securing funding for his tin-top racing. As an All-American racer, NASCAR is where his heart lies, but only time will tell whether the lure of F1 is too great.

Danica Patrick

Simply because we’ll get slated if she’s not on the list, yes it’s the lovely Danica Patrick. Certainly one of the greater talents from across the pond, it’s relatively guaranteed that she will stay in the hive of publicity she has created around herself in her native USA. Linked with USF1 since the beginning of the year, the jury is still out on the continuity of her talent and whether she has the adaptability to push a new team forward. For Patrick, it’s USF1 or no one if she wants a drive at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Danica takes a rather disproportionate slice of the pie for the Second Seat at USF1/GPE/NASA, but maybe Badger sees something we can’t.

 

Conor Daly

Son of Irish F1 driver Derek Daly; Conor has been tipped by many to feature prominently in the new USF1 team. In only his second year of car racing, Daly is already impressing in the Star Mazda series, with a win at the New Jersey Motorsport Park. Winner of multiple prestigious awards like the Skip Barber National Championship and the Formula Ford Walter Hayes trophy at Silverstone, Daly has shown that he had one of pedigree, but does he have the ability to take a new team forward.

Gabby Chaves

Gabby Chaves was plucked recently from the relative obscurity of Formula BMW USA when mentioned as a possibility at the new USF1 team by sporting director Peter Windsor. At fifteen years old, he has an impressive track record, and is famed as the youngest-ever driver to hold a class-C license. Currently second in the BMW series, he’s clear of his nearest rival by more than forty points and in line to win the championship come October at the season close in Sao Paulo. At such a young age, Chaves will be unlikely to take a race seat with USF1, but then again, in a bid to launch the team with fanfare; such an abstract choice might set Formula One alight.

For a youngster, Gabby shouldn’t be too disappointed with his meager slice of the pie, but who is someone else going to be?  Could it be a non-American?

With thanks to GEPA images and the Associated Press for photography.