Credible Driver News About USF1? Lopez May Be the Man
November 19, 2009 by vmr
Filed under People & Events, Top Story
According to local Cordoba, Argentina news site MundoD, Jose Maria Lopez was at the USF1 factory Tuesday to finalize a contract to drive for the American team in 2010. Poorly translated by Google, the article says that
“when some versions indicated that the arrival of Jose Maria Lopez Cordoba to Formula One seemed impossible, a trip seems to say otherwise. On Tuesday night, “Pechito” flew to the United States to meet with team officials USF1.”
Thursday, a source at USF1 confirmed that Lopez was at the factory and is a talented driver, but not if he is in contract negotiations or has a contract for 2010.
According to the article, the young Argentinian (though not so young at 26 as many recent F1 rookies) has the financial backing of the governor of Santiago del Estero, who helped bring together a coalition of businesses to further his career. Lopez has open-wheel experience in multiple Formula Renault series, F3000, and GP2, as well as recent touring car experience, as he was the 2008 Argentinian TC 2000 driver’s champion. Lopez has long been considered a front-runner for the USF1 seat in South America, but has received little press attention from the European F1 contingent.
“Pechito traveled to speak to the people on the team. We are making progress in negotiations and working to see if we can get the place and silver,”
said Carlos García Remohí, president of the Comisión Deportiva Automovilista (CDA) del Automóvil Club Argentino (ACA). Lopez’s father is quoted as saying,
“we need a 20 per cent of the $8 million we agreed,”
and the deal will be announced. Whether this means that Lopez is bringing his own sponsors to the team is as unclear as the translation. Previously, USF1 was quite adamant that they would not accept a driver solely on monetary conditions, but it whether or not Lopez is to be signed remains to be seen. This story would be far less credible but for the pictorial evidence provided with the Argentinian story, and the confirmation today from USF1. Perhaps tomorrow will be another busy day in the 2009/2010 silly season driver sagas. Stay tuned for more from… As The Right Wheel Turns…the Formula1 soap opera.
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WOOT bringing back the pay-to-race drivers. Mobile chicanes are back in F1.
Saying that, I have no idea who this guy is or if he can drive.
Graham Rahal would be the choice and he would be very competitive, Will the car???
Lots of USF1 News today. Here is an article about how their design is coming along and what technical resources they are using in the Charlotte area:
http://www.racintoday.com/archives/12144
About Lopez, this article suggests that Summerton and Rossi will be competing for the 2nd seat with Lopez perhaps getting the other:
http://www.ts.fi/f1/sahkeet/89744.html
(you will need to translate it, basically it says “It says Jose Maria Lopez is a strong candidate to be a USF1 driver. He has been spotted at the USF1 headquarters.
Alexander Rossi and Jonathan Summerton would be competing for the other seat.
It says Jose Maria Lopez will get a super license easily because he has tested much (was at Renault at least), but for the Americans it is much more difficult.”
I haven’t heard of this kid until last night when I saw these news stories popping up on the web.
And Peter was very animated in our interview with him that Kyle Bush might be in the seat for 2011 as well.
Hey at least people who had doubts about USF1 due to the lack of “decorations” in their office space during the Speed TV’s segement with Steve Matchett can cleary see they now have a sign out in front of their shop. PROGRESS PEOPLE!
But really, I am exicted about USF1 and can’t wait to finally learn who their drivers are.
LOL. With the money they’ll make from this driver; they may be able to get a new potted plant or a bigger picture for Peter’s wall. :)
Peter was also pretty clear in saying they wouldn’t sign anyone who didn’t already have a superlicense.
So if Lopez doesn’t have one, I’d say this is just propaganda…
The only place I had heard of him was from South American readers, until this Argentinian article, and I figured I should really get a hold of the team. He’s been at the factory, but they’re not saying anything else. Is he the closest to a real story so far? I’d say so.
Apparently, he also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, too.
I see USF1 attended the Champ Car school of driver selection.
They should consider signing Alex Figge. At least he’s an American.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americas
Argentina is in America too.
By the way, Lopez is much better driver than Mazzacane, he was Forumla Renault V6 champion, and competed in GP2 against Hamilton & Piquet head to head.
He’s also 2008 & 2009 TC2000 champion and is heading to become champ in the other two important tourism series here in Argentina. The guy’s winning everything here now, waiting for a chance at F1. He was recommended to Windsor by Carlos Reutemann.
where is the argentinian MAZZACANE? I remember him as one of the last mobile-chicane in f1 (except Badoer), and also because his name translated in italian sounds like “kill-dog”.. it could be still good for usf1, if they needs money..
Mazzacane is racing on Argentina, he still qualifying between 35 and 42 place of 44 cars on every race; meanwhile Lopez qualify on Pole almost every weekend.
The only reason that justify Mazzacane race on F1 was because his father was the head of the most popular beer on Argentina “Quilmes” and has alot of money and influence…Mazzacane never won anything on Argentina, never!! Lopez is the best argentinian driver since Reutemann, and why belive that he’s is going to do a good work, Trust Me..
Cheers from Argentina :)
don´t forget that lopez had a test driver in the renault f1 team in the years of fernando alonso. this weekend he has the posibility to become in the man that win the three most important championship in argentina at the same season like no-one ever had done.
How could we forget! Oh wait…we have never heard of the guy! Just because you have tested a Formula 1 car 3 years ago, and you won a touring car championship doesn’t mean you are going to succeed in F1. Not trying to bash the kid, but it just seems is is the Dale Jr of South America. All hype right now. If he does end up signing with USF1, he will get kicked to the curb after the first season after they have his money.