I picked this up on one of the autosport webpages...this is just too funny...<p>Jason Plato is setting his sights on the NASCAR series. <p>Renault’s lead driver is considering his options following the French<br>marque’s decision to quit British Touring Car Championship. <p>However, he admits he is more likely to compete in next year’s<br>BTCC. <p>Vauxhall and Honda have both been linked with the 31-year-old. <p>‘NASCAR is my long-term target,’ he said. <p>‘Maybe not straight away, because it’s going to be a tough nut to<br>crack, but that’s where I want my career to take me.’ <p>Plato and Honda young gun, James Thompson, have led the new<br>wave of British talent replacing the BTCC old guard. <p>He believes that three-times champion Jeff Gordon is doing the<br>same in the NASCAR’s big-league Winston Cup. <p>‘I think I’d go down well in the States,’ Plato said. <p>‘Jeff Gordon has proved that young guys are important and maybe<br>there’s a place for me. I’d certainly love to go over and do it.’ <p>++++++++++++++++++++++++<p>What...he wants to do ovals now? I think he wants to make more money.<br>Anybody else agree with me?<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM<p>P.S. Plato is the guy that use to run a Renault in 1997 BTCC and beat Frank<br>Biela (driving an Audi A4) out for first place.

Everyone thinks NASCAR is IT now because of all the money you can get.<br>Its not even about racing anymore all marketing and sponsorship. <p>NASCAR probably wouldn't take him because they only accept down-home country boys and the funny accent would prove to the fans of NASCAR that there is life outside of the South and countries other than Texas. They would all panic.<p>I actually read that CART isn't as popular because of the proliferation of non-American drivers. I can't believe that people actually care what nationality the driver is when the series is so competetive and good. Frankly I'd rather see a foreign driver racing than the current crop of NASCAR drivers any day. I've never taken in to consideration that Eddie Irvine, Alex Zanardi, Juan Montoya, Dario Franchitti aren't American's. It's not about that.<p>So to hear a Brit talk about going to NASCAR is seeing that the motivation is money, fame and fortune and not about 'the racing experience'. You can't really blame the guy. I think NASCAR fans would have a 'Burn the Brit' celebration if the guy ever went to NASCAR though.<p>

I remember a while back was listening to a NASCAR race while out cruising in the Porsche (about the only decent station I could get out in the mountains of WV). When they heard that Billy Boat had won Indy (as I remember), one of the announcers stated, "Yeah, it's great that finally someone won Indy that has a name people can pronounce!"<p>I have to give NASCAR credit; they're great on giving public exposure to the drivers/crew (when did you see an interview with a F1 driver or crew cheif during a race?). I just can't stand their roundy-round driving or big tanks they drive. Also, wimps don't drive in the rain.

Canadian Cart driver Greg Moore is thinking about Nascar next year. Again, this is a rumor.<p>Kevin C.<br>Silver 1.8TQM

While he may be a superior driver to the Nascar boys, they'll make him somebody's girlfriend...<br>

He had a deal to run at Sears Point in October. There was some controversy about it at the time, and I don't remember if he ended up doing it or not. <p>-Dennis<br>

And just think, Plato will have an even bigger and heavier car to bash them rednecks with. No, I don't think any BTCC driver will have that problem - only the one of SHEER BOREDOME driving in circles! Or maybe a bit of dizziness from going in circles.

face it, we have the best looking ladies in the world...(or at least far better than Brits)<br>Before you Californians speak up, the women in the South have REAL bodyparts.