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| Features |
| EKN Interview Series: Scott Speed |
| Article by: - by Jeffrey Franz |
 | | Speed after his July 2000 Momo Grand Prix win |
The last thirty days have been very good to Scott Speed.
Just over a month ago, the seventeen year old Californian arrived at the SKUSA SuperNationals, widely held as the premier shifting kart event in North America, and utterly dominated the affair. He was fastest in qualifying, won all three of his heats, logged the fastest race lap, and cruised to the S1 SuperNats crown.
With that honor, he claimed a three day Jim Russell racing school and an invite to the annual Russell Graduate Run-Offs. Even with scant experience in a formula car, he won the Run-Offs and will now enjoy a fully paid season in the 2001 USAC Formula Russell Championship.
Quiet yet personable, to talk with Scott is to get one immediate impression; this is a very serious minded young race driver. He has a realistic approach to the chances of fulfilling his dreams, yet his confidence propels him unabated toward those goals. His recent success is undeniably well-deserved, and he will enter the new year as a firm favorite to win the SKUSA ProMoto title.
Ekartingnews: Has the enthusiasm for racing always existed within your family? Your father is certainly very much involved in your karting career.
Scott Speed: My dad got me into a kart, and he was there for my first test day. But ever since then, we've been the ones begging him to take us out to the track every weekend. It just runs in the family, we like to be at the racetrack. It might be hereditary, since my dad was a three time national champion in laydown racing, and hopefully it will carry on to our kids.
EKN: In 2000, you were driving for MBA, then switched to KGB, and now you will be switching again for 2001. Are there significant differences between the chassis you've driven, or are the primary differences in the support you receive from the manufacturers?
SS: We switched to KGB out of financial necessity, but unfortunately that didn't work out, so I won't be signing with them for next year. As far as the chassis are concerned, I don't think there is that whole much of a difference, because I feel that you can make any chassis go fast. The differences are found more in the build quality of the chassis, and certainly in the support you get from the manufacturers.
EKN: What will be your focus next year, the ProMoto title or the Formula Russell championship?
SS: My number one priority is the SKUSA ProMoto Tour. I think that is a little more prestigious, and if the two series have conflicting races on the same weekend, I would choose to miss the Russell race and not a SKUSA race.
EKN: If you could have your pick of seats in any series in the world, what would it be? And, what path do you see yourself taking to get there?
SS: I would definitely choose McLaren in Formula 1. But, do I think it's possible? No, I think it's a bit unlikely. More realistically, I think it's possible to get into Indycars, and that's what I am focusing on. Of course, there isn't any set path to getting there, so I am looking forward to running in the Formula Russell series and getting a lot of seat time. Then, I would look at a Formula Atlantic ride. It would also be good to become one of the Team USA drivers and get into the Formula Palmer Audi series.
EKN: Speaking of the future, do you have plans for your education beyond high school?
SS: I'm a senior right now, and whether I go to college or not really depends on where my racing career is at that moment. At this point, I think I'm going to take a year off from college and try to advance my racing career as much as possible.
EKN: Putting you on the spot a bit, describe your relationship with A.J. Allmendinger.
SS: A.J. and I go back to when we first started racing in juniors. The competitiveness between us is very high, but when the adrenaline is pumping, we don't seem like the most cordial of people towards each other. As far as off the track, and even after this last incident wears off, I think we will become friends again. I can tell you that nothing is ever done intentionally on the track.
EKN: We are always curious as to people's ideology on the way karting is organized in the United States. Your opinion?
SS: SKUSA is doing a pretty good job. As far as choices go, if you want to run clutch stuff, you can run I.K.F., if you want to run shifters then you run SKUSA. What I would suggest to SKUSA is making all their tracks more like the MOMO event, or the Canada race where it's a street circuit, so we can get some more spectators out there and some more exposure. That way we bring the races to the spectators.
EKN: Tell us just a bit about that younger brother of yours.
SS: He's pretty impressive. Alex tested my 125 kart recently, since he's getting ready to move into S2 next year, and he went extremely fast. I think his only problem might be his stamina, because he's kind of a little guy.
EKN: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
SS: I'd really like to thank SKUSA and Russell for coming together and giving me the chance to do the Russell three day school and the Graduate event. My result at the Run-offs was completely unexpected, and I have them to thank for the opportunity. That was really nice of them. It is a good program, and like the CART "Stars of Tomorrow" event, I think it will really help pave the way for drivers to move from karts to cars. |
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