T-Scheck On The Prowl
November 26, 2011 | By Robin Miller - SPEED.COM
Courtesy of Speed.com
By all rights, Tomas Scheckter should be a perennial challenger for championships in the IZOD INDYCAR series. Fast, fearless and adept at overtaking, he’s also got an engaging personality and a very marketable last name.
But, because he’s struggled on road courses and street circuits, the one time Formula One test driver has been relegated to part-time status and labeled an “oval track specialist.”
It’s one of the great mysteries--how a winner in Vauxhall Junior, Formula Opel, Formula Nissan and British Formula 3, who was weaned on road racing and eying a career in F1 is an also-ran at turning right and left.
Despite his schooling, aggressive attitude and obvious car control, Scheckter has never been a factor in his 18 road races in INDYCAR.
Instead, he’s been a winner and a thrill show on ovals – a discipline he’d never seen before 2002.
“It’s crazy, I know, but I’ve got a bad name on road courses because I’ve done a sh*t job on them,” admitted the 31-year-old veteran who beat Fernando Alonzo in one of his last Nissan races. “For whatever reason, I’ve never gotten use to this car on road courses.
“It always felt like I was driving a tractor around and the steering is so heavy it seemed like I lost a lot of feel. To go quick in Europe you had to late brake, be smooth and let the car flow but I always feel like I’m sawing the steering wheel in an Indy car.
“I’ve been road racing since I was 11 and I haven’t forgotten anything I learned but I struggled to find the old car’s limits.”
While he’s not yet been in the new Dallara DW12, Tomas spent some time talking to Dan Wheldon about it. The two-time Indy winner and 2005 IRL champion commiserated with Scheckter since he had also flourished on road courses in junior formulas but never showed that same prowess in Indy cars.
However, prior to his fatal accident last month in Las Vegas, Wheldon told fellow drivers he liked the feel of the new Dallara in testing and was looking forward to road racing in 2012.
“Dan said it was much lighter, easier to drive and you could carry a lot more speed in the corner,” related Scheckter. “He said it was more like a go-kart and fun to drive.
“That’s why I’m looking forward to this new car.”
To be fair, Scheckter hasn’t been a full-time driver since 2007 and he has jumped around driving one-offs for different teams. Since nearly winning the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie, he’s always in demand each May but he reckons he’s at a crossroads.
“I’m 31 years old and I’ve got to make a decision in the next two months,” he said. “I’m not going to do six races anymore. I want to do this the proper way, with a testing program and full-time deal.
“I’ve talked to a lot of owners and they all want to know how much money do you have? That’s becoming a boring conversation so I’ve got to decide whether I stick around or go someplace else.”
But he sounds like IndyCar is still where he wants to be in 2012.
“This is the year with new cars and engines when a little team has the opportunity to turn things around,” said Scheckter. “I think I’ve learned a lot and I can help change things around.
“I’ve struggled for the last three years and I’m hungrier than ever. I just want one more chance to do it right.”