Would you want to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. race in Formula One?
You might never have considered the prospect of NASCAR’s 12-time most popular driver racing in the international series, but Tavo Hellmund has.
Hellmund is a former driver and promoter who helped get the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and is fresh off organizing the first Mexican Grand Prix in 23 years.
In a feature by the Austin American-Statesman, Hellmund, who is part of a group looking to buy the Manor F1 team, says he truly wants Earnhardt in the cockpit.
Writes the paper:If that does happen, a big goal of the team would be to put an American driver on the grid. Hellmund said he’s serious about his first choice being Dale Jr., even if that seems like a pie-in-the-sky idea.
A more realistic option would be his second choice, Alexander Rossi. He raced in the U.S. Grand Prix this year and has competed successfully in a couple of series that are considered steppingstones to F1.
“He has the resume,” Hellmund said, adding that Rossi has done better than any American driver who journeyed to Europe with hopes of making it to F1, a path Hellmund once tried.
Earnhardt is busy with his Sprint Cup ride at Hendrick Motorsports for the foreseeable future. Also, the 25-time Cup winner never has been shy about his lack of love for road-course racing.
But Hellmund can dream.