INDYCAR: What's Next For Wheldon?

IndyCar

INDYCAR: What’s Next For Wheldon?

After Dan Wheldon revealed he's out of a drive for 2011, team boss John Barnes sheds some light on Panther Racing's new direction.

Marshall Pruett | Posted September 06, 2010

With Panther Racing set to part ways with Dan Wheldon, the list of possible replacements is quite interesting. Vote for your choice below. (LAT)

After nearly a year of speculation about the security of his seat at Panther Racing, 2005 IndyCar Series champion Dan Wheldon revealed that he is looking for new opportunities in 2011.

In a post-race interview from Kentucky on VERSUS Saturday night, the highest profile free agent in open-wheel racing revealed "I've got to find a job for next year," confirming one of the worst-kept secrets in the paddock.

The 32-year-old Briton, who ranks amongst the most successful active IndyCar drivers with 15 victories, has come close to winning for Panther Racing and their sponsor National Guard, but after 32 races without a trip to Victory Lane for the veteran IRL team, the Indianapolis-based outfit has elected to shake things up for 2011.

While his time at Panther hasn't been without its high points, Wheldon struggled to recapture the form he displayed at Andretti-Green Racing that earned him the 2005 IndyCar Series title and the Indy 500 in the same year.

Wheldon drew the ire of the team prior to the season opener when he made several critical remarks about the shortcomings in their 2009 program, citing the lack of a new chassis and an elevated wind tunnel program that he said was promised. The rift was quickly patched over, but the divide between the two camps made for steady speculation about the long-term health of the relationship.

To Wheldon's credit, he made several positive comments about the 2010 program Panther had in the works, stating on multiple occasions that he expected all of the team's aero and damper development to pay off by the time they arrived at Indy.

A second consecutive runner-up finish by Wheldon at the Indy 500 boosted morale last May, and the team has ridden a high recently thanks to his performances over the last two rounds where he's earned second- and third-place finishes.

Yet the team's need for wins -- something they've been lacking since 2005 -- was the motivation for bringing Wheldon on board.

After losing yet another heart breaker, this time at Kentucky, the pressure and frustration seemed to boil over when Wheldon chose to reveal Panther's future plans on VERSUS.

The exact list of possible replacements for Wheldon is unknown, but speaking with Panther Racing team owner John Barnes, a few key pieces have to fall into place before finalizing their driver roster.

"Quite frankly, we have not solidified our driver lineup for 2011 because we're not sure if we're going to be a one-car or two-car team. We're concentrating on getting all of the [sponsorship] programs together before deciding on how to fill the seats."

While it was clear that the team would have preferred to announce Wheldon's impending change in employment status, Barnes says he doesn't harbor any ill will about the manner which Wheldon spoke to the media.

"Dan has done an incredible job these last two races with Ed Carpenter as his partner, so why would I be upset with the drivers who've been dominant over the last two races? They've done a great job, and we just haven't decided which direction to go [next year]."

Barnes says that given how hard he has worked to represent the National Guard on and off the track, offering Wheldon a new contract isn't beyond the realm of possibilities.

"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 would be hard to fathom how Wheldon returns in 2011, given the team's need to fortify weaknesses that Wheldon cannot held to fix. Earning two IRL championships with Sam Hornish when the series raced exclusively on ovals, Panther has struggled to adapt to the modern era of IndyCar racing where road races comprise more than half of the schedule.

An oval driver of Wheldon's caliber is a rare find. His record at the Indianapolis 500, with a win, two seconds, a third and a fourth gives the Englishman a strong chance of delivering a big payday for someone in 2011. (LAT)

While Wheldon's prowess on ovals was a perfect fit for Panther --14 of his 15 wins have come when turning left -- his struggles on road courses prevented the team from being a serious contender at every round.

His driving style, which favors smooth circuits that do not require a lot of fast, harsh inputs, is tailor-made for ovals, which could make him a prized commodity for any team needing to improve their chances at Indianapolis.

Barnes, who prizes an Indy 500 win more than anything, says that any driver they choose must have the ability to win immediately at the Speedway.

"I was told in 1987 by the CEO of Hardees that you're either racing at the Indianapolis 500, or waiting to race at the Indianapolis 500. I'd say that this is what we're preparing for -- to win that race and get that [Borg Warner] trophy just like Chip Ganassi or Michael Andretti. We've been close the last two years, but that's our main goal in life. We want to win every race we go to, but that's the one we want most."

As Panther continues to evolve, I'd expect a greater emphasis to be placed on hiring drivers who can deliver for their sponsors at every race, and not just the Indy 500. Wheldon has been impressive at times on road and street courses this year, but has never threatened for a win.

According to Barnes, answers to who will represent the team next season should be known in the next six weeks.

"I think it will be the middle of October before we're ready to announce our drivers for 2011 and beyond. It might be the end of October, but we're working hard to button everything up. We want to have the No. 4 National Guard car running up front, and we're trying to beef that up with everything we'll do for the future. Our sole focus is trying to establish how many cars [we'll run] and then we'll announce who will be driving for us."

The options going forward for Wheldon, who has served as one of the more popular drivers in the series since his arrival, appear to be limited. Paying drives are a rare commodity in the IZOD IndyCar Series, and with no known vacancies at Penske or Ganassi, Panther and Andretti Autosport are his only real options.

Provided he isn't hired by Panther, it would take a a surprise vacancy to see Wheldon return to the Andretti stable.

A.J. Foyt continues to remain loyal to Vitor Meira, the driver Wheldon replaced at Panther, and few other paying rides would seem to be appealing to a driver who is accustomed to earning top dollar.

If the money could be found, the best fit for Wheldon could be at de Ferran Dragon Racing, where sophomore driver Rafa Matos is in dire need of mentor. As an organization, dFDM would benefit greatly from Wheldon's oval expertise -- something that had a great impact on Target Chip Ganassi Racing's oval game when he arrived from AGR.

Candidates to replace Wheldon have been suggested since the 2010 season started, with Graham Rahal most commonly mentioned as Wheldon's successor.

The choice of an American pilot to represent the National Guard isn't a necessity, but with Rahal, J.R. Hildebrand and even Paul Tracy (a North American, mind you) available for 2011, Barnes isn't lacking in talent to choose from.

Ryan Hunter-Reay, the top American driver in 2010 and a threat on every type of circuit, would be a natural fit, but the status of his contract with Andretti Autosport is unknown.

The team is said to have a 'gong show' test planned after the season concludes in early October at Homestead, where a better picture of the new-look Panther Racing should come into focus.

It's hard to see how the likable Englishman rebounds immediately to land with a team that's of equal or greater stature than Panther Racing, but with strong support from fans and most of his peers, one can only hope Wheldon will find a new home where he can rekindle his career.

Who would you like to see in the No. 4 Panther Racing National Guard car in 2011?customer surveys

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com’s Auto Racing Editor, and also covers IndyCar and sportscar racing for the site. Pruett grew up at ‘Pruett's Olde English Garage,’ his father's shelter for abused foreign cars, and spent his childhood being dragged across the West Coast to help with his dad's amateur racing exploits.

Pruett spent 20 years working in the IRL, CART, IMSA, and most of the known open-wheel feeder series before retiring from active duty in 2001. And in case you were wondering, he isn’t related to Scott Pruett.

Marshall lives in Northern California with his wife Shabral, and can be emailed . He can also be harassed on Twitter .