Formula One Crossover Idea Is Absurd

Can we please be real?

All this talk about a NASCAR driver hopping into a Formula One car and suddenly delivering the world its first American-bred F1 star since Mario Andretti is ludicrous.

Putting Kyle Busch or any other NASCAR driver (with the obvious exception of Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Speed) behind the wheel of the newly announced USF1 team would be 90 percent novelty and 10 percent pure optimism.

And it wouldn't be fair to them or to the rest of us who think it is high time to find a qualified young American open-wheel talent with a legitimate shot at making it in F1.

Legitimate being the word here.

Yes Busch is young, extremely talented and ambitious -- three of the basic qualifications. But for him to stand a real chance at even running near the front of the field -- forget winning a race -- he'd need to be with a proven team and have logged thousands of miles in a car. How about competing in an open-wheel race?

Sorry, but running Legends cars and modifieds on an oval does not count as open-wheel experience when it comes to strapping into the world's most sophisticated race cars competing against the most athletic race car drivers on the planet.

That's not to say with an extended timeline and a seat at Ferrari, Busch or Kasey Kahne or Jeff Gordon or a select handful of other NASCAR stars couldn't be successful in F1. But it's not an instant transition, certainly not with a startup team no matter how impressive the founders' credentials or noble his intentions.

Why would these NASCAR stars want to jump into a no-win situation?

While F1 is huge everywhere else in the world, their fame would take a nose-dive in America. Think it's tough and frustrating fighting fender-to-fender a lap down for the Lucky Dog privilege in a Sprint Cup race? Imagine what it's like knowing you stand next-to-nothing odds to win in a F1 race. Ask Speed how ample talent fares in the wrong circumstance.

The exotic locales, gourmet food and beautiful people can't substitute for the exhilaration of victory these drivers are used to enjoying.

Sure having a NASCAR driver on the grid would be a huge attraction for F1 -- a pick-me-up for a series with its own set of problems.

But being an out-of-contention sideshow is not the right reason for them to be there.

Let's hope the USF1 team owners, the wise Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson tap an American(s) with open-wheel experience and odds-on potential to give our country its best shot at contending on that great world stage. It's about time someone recognized and filled the void.

And if Busch, Kahne, or even Gordon are truly inclined to give big-time open-wheel racing a shot, let's first get them behind the wheel of an IndyCar.

Move the 600,000 miles of Charlotte to Memorial Day Monday and let these NASCAR drivers give the Indy 500 a try.

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