CART was nothing but a stepping stone really Im afraid for JPM. Like it defintly is now for drivers. People like Junqeria, Bourdais, Manning, Monterio, JPM all moved from F3000 to CART to try and make it into F1 after CART. Its a shame but hey F1 is the worlds premier single seater category in terms of car performance and driver talent. I know a lot of people in the US do prefer IRL and CART and I respect that. But I think most people ackowledge that F1 is the worlds premier single seater series (if not worlds premier motorsport series) Now that CART is becoming ever more global its almost encouraging drivers from Europe to race in the CWS, they see it as a stepping stone to F1 after F3000.
Coming 2nd to F1 is no bad thing. Lots of people prefer CART and IRL I know, but F1 is the top step I think most people see, at least in single seaters, if not in the motorsport world all round. Personally I love CART, and the idea of it becoming a feeder series to F1 I like, but I mean I dont want CART to lose sight of what it is, CART. But if they raced with the F1 circus on some of the European tracks, or hosted their own rounds at the tracks at seperate times that would be awesome. Imagine CART at Barcelona, Monza, Spa...
Still probably wont ever happen.
Anyways, I think JPM is happier now in F1 than he was in CART. Especially now hes started to get to grips with the tracks and car. I really hope he wins the title this year. He won F3000 in 1998 then won CART, and now HOPEFULLY F1. If this happens btw it will be the first time ever a F300 champion has won a F1 title. JPM wll make history!