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Would’a, Could’a, Should’a, Part 2

Tim Considine
Parnelli Jones, at the wheel of the Shelby King Cobra (#94), wins the 1964 Times Grand Prix at Riverside, California. This was both ParnelliÕs first road race and his first time behind the wheel of the King Cobra. Teammate Richie Ginther (#92) finished seventh. Photo: Dave Friedman

We posed the question two issues back, “Who are the two Americans who would have been most likely to succeed in Formula One, but never tried?” We gave early-1950s Cunningham ace Phil Walters as our first choice and asked you to guess the other. Well, here are the results.

Rick Mears’ name came up often and indeed, the “what-ifs” are intriguing. In 1979, Mears won the Indy 500 and the first CART championship in his first full year with car-owner Roger Penske. Jackie Stewart touted the Californian to Brabham team owner Bernie Ecclestone, and in 1980, Mears tested in Europe and in the U.S. against Brabham driver Nelson Piquet. At Paul Ricard, Mears was only a half second behind the talented Brazilian. At Riverside Raceway, he was two to three seconds faster. Regardless, Mears passed on the opportunity, deciding to stay in CART with Penske. The following year, Nelson Piquet was World Champion in the Brabham. Makes one wonder, eh?

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