Nicolas Minassian is a relative oddity in the motorsports world: a
Frenchman driving a stock car.
It's hard to believe that American race fans might easily say, "Oui!"
to Minassian in NASCAR's Winston Cup series. Still, the open-wheel vet,
perhaps encouraged by recent crossovers by Scott Pruett, John Andretti,
Tony Stewart, and the upcoming campaign of Christian Fittipaldi, has not
ruled out the possibility of driving tin-top taxis on the high banks if
he gets the right opportunity.
For now, though, Minassian is busy running in the European ASCAR racing
series, which uses NASCAR-like late model stock cars. For a driver
whose pedigree involves mostly single-seater open-wheel cars, the ASCAR
cars are a new and exciting challenge. "You can be less precise on your
driving style and much more aggressive as the car is more forgiving and
that's lots of fun," says Minassian. "The ASCAR is much slower than what
I am used to, so there are less g-forces to contend with. Less downforce
on the car means it slides and moves around the track, which makes it
fun to drive."
That is not to say that Nic Minassian has forsaken his open-wheel roots.
He is a veteran of the F1 feeder program, having been runner-up in the
British and French F3 championships as well as the FIA Formula 3000
championship. Among his higher-visibility accomplishments have been test
drives for the Williams and BAR Formula One teams.
American racing fans know Nic Minassian best for his lamentably short
career in the 2001 CART Champ Car series with Target Chip Ganassi
Racing. Picked up by Ganassi along with F3000 teammate Bruno Junqueira
before the 2001 season, Minassian initially outperformed his Brazilian
counterpart and seemed poised for a breakthrough with the veteran champ
car operation. However, it was evident to Minassian from the outset that
Junqueira was being thought of as the team's number-one driver. His
perceived lack of support from the Ganassi team, coupled with a plague
of mechanical woes wiping out potentially good finishes and culminating
in a practice wreck at Indianapolis, added up to a much shorter tenure
with the Target team than he had expected. Minassian was sacked after
only six races.
Minassian believes his handful of races, supplemented by a smattering of
testing dates, were not enough to prove what he could do in a champ car.
Moreover, he felt handicapped by his team. "They were a difficult team
to work with," he admits. "If Bruno tested for two days then I tested
for one. At Mid-Ohio, I only got ten laps because they didn't want to
get the spare car out of the trailer."
An unfortunate incident at Milwaukee contributed to the poisonous
atmosphere. Minassian, still learning the art of hot-pitting the heavy
champ cars, slid through his box and hit a mechanic's foot. "I had to
go back out under a constant barrage of insults over the radio," he
recalls, "and our relationship became very strained after this."
Strained enough, it appears, that the team didn't even bother to give
Minassian his walking papers in person. "I made a lot of sacrifices to
go to the US and then all I get is a phone call to tell me I am out of
a drive," he says. "I was not even told face-to-face and I don't think
this is very professional."
It is difficult for Nicolas Minassian to put aside his bitterness even
now. "I was very disappointed that an outfit as big as Ganassi could
behave in such a way," Minassian says. "Although I made some mistakes
that as a professional racing driver I have to take responsibility for,
the majority of the time my problems were down to mechanical failure.
My accident [at Indianapolis] was due to a mechanical problem, which
threw me into the wall at over 200 mph. I had a headache for two weeks
following this accident, but I still managed to qualify on Bump Day.
Taking time off following a heavy accident was not an option as it was
difficult to talk to the team... I would have been replaced."
After Ganassi replaced Minassian with American "super-sub" Memo Gidley
(who was also unceremoniously released after the end of the season,
notwithstanding a promising performance), Minassian found himself out
of CART and adrift in his professional career. Now, however, he is back
with a full-time ASCAR effort and preparing for an eventual return to
the United States racing scene. And though he still hopes to get a
ride in open-wheel, he has not ruled out a drive in the red-hot NASCAR
series.
"In general I came to race in ASCAR in order to continue racing on ovals
with the ultimate goal of returning to single-seater racing in the US,"
Minassian says. "But yes, if I was offered a ride in NASCAR of course I
would jump at the chance. The series is phenomenal in the States and it
would be fantastic to be a part of that."
But while his burgeoning stock car career has opened up new
possibilities for his future, Minassian's heart still lies with the
turbocharged open-cockpit champ cars that he so briefly experienced last
year.
"There is no doubt that I prefer single-seater racing [to ASCAR],"
says Minassian. "There are bigger crowds, longer races, it is more of
a physical challenge, and I get a buzz from the danger element of this
type of racing. The technical side is also very different. [Since]
ASCAR is a low-budget racing series in its infancy, the car remains
pretty static throughout the season, whereas in open-wheel culture
the development is constant and you get to work with engine, tire and
chassis manufacturers to improve the car and move forwards and I enjoy
the challenge that brings. In truth, though, the two disciplines are
very difficult to compare.
"If I was offered a drive at somewhere like Newman-Haas, then that is
the one I would have to take, as I think CART is the most challenging
championship, with a variety of courses, travel to different countries,
and an excellent fan base," he says. "The cars are also very powerful
and extremely technical, an aspect I enjoy. I learned a lot [driving for
Ganassi] and would go back tomorrow if they asked me.
However, Nicolas says, "I would think very differently about how I would
handle things."
Whether he races stock cars or open-wheel cars, Minassian is certain
of one thing. His past has given him an acute -- and understandable
-- desire for long term involvement that transcends his personal
preferences as a driver. "All experience is good, racing is my passion,
and I want to know everything there is to know about the sport -- across
all disciplines," says Nicolas. "[But] I have to look after my future.
So if for example Newman-Haas offered me a one-year contract and NASCAR
offered me three then I would go with the latter."
Wherever he ends up, it is apparent that Nicolas Minassian is ready to
rebound from his 2001 setbacks. He is also eager to return to the United
States and to win himself American race fans. "I want to return to the
US as the championships are competitive and the fans and the atmosphere
is fantastic," he says. "The US really shares its racing with the public
and I like to have contact with my fans."
There is one American tradition that Minassian would like to avoid
at all costs. At Indy in 2001, veteran racing reporter Robin Miller
persuaded Minassian to try a pork tenderloin sandwich, a local
Indianapolis delicacy. Unfortunately, the honor of taking part in this
particular tradition was overwhelmed by his difficulty eating the food.
"I think I'm still choking on it," he says wryly.
