Wicth Open-Wheel Diver or Rookie (or both) is most likey to make the chase in 2008?

Montoya - Good odds. He has a year in stock cars now, in a pretty decent team, and a very skilled driver that should be in the prime of his carrer (if not a little bit past it). If he doesnt make the chase, he should be very close in 2008. If he finishes like he did, or worse in the points, I would be suprised.

Franchitti - Decent odds. I think if anything, he will be in Montoya's position, but I think a little better off because he will have Montoya as a teammate, and he would be able to help him out with the transistion to stock cars, since he had the same expeirence this season. If he doesnt make the chase, it wouldnt suprise me, he will probably post the same results as Montoya in 2007

Allmendinger - Very Small Chance - Red Bull has the cash to help the team, and with Scott Speed learning how to drive stock cars in ARCA, and more than likely, some Busch races, Allmendinger and his teammate (Vickers) will probably be racing for their jobs. Along with having a year of notes from Toyota, they should improve, but if I see the 84 in the chase, I will be VERY suprised.

Villeneuve - Very Small Chance - No doubt Villeneuve is talented, and trying to get a stake in the team, he will do whatever he can along with Bill Davis in making that team run as good as possible, but this isnt the BDR if 2002 when the team could run up front, this is the BDR of now, which is barely a B-level team. I might watch out for him on the Road Courses (as Robby Gordon proved in a piss-poor team years back at Sonoma), but nothing more.

Gordon - Very Small Chance - He has very many things against him, mainly being a self owned team (though with some outside help), Single Car team. I would only watch out for him on the road courses, maybe an oval or two for a couple of top 10's if the car is dialed in right, and luck is going his way.

Mears - Pretty Good Chance - For years, the 25 was the redheaded stepchild car of Hendrick, but last season, Mears did seem to pull that team up quite well after the win in the 600, and get a respectable points finish. Im sure though with the 25 turning into the 88, and Mears moving to the 5, the redheaded stepchild designation will move to there, but with Hendrick's resourses, if Mears can keep on doing what he did last season, a Chase spot can be had.

Smith - Small Chance - DEI is going to be a big unknown. DEI does have the co-ownership of Ginn, who is more than willing to throw cash around to improve the team, but I would probably expect Top 25 in points for Smith.

Hornish - Very Small Chance - Unless Hornish vastly improves himself over the offseason, whats for me to belive that he could contend for a chase spot, let along making races (even though he will probably be taking the 2's points, and automatically make 5 races at least), even if its Penske (which seems to had regressed for a time after Rusty Wallace's retirement, but is somewhat on the mend now). If he can prove he can qualify a car, and if he can prove he can do well on raceday (which in Busch races I have seen him race in, has not been all that great), I might belive it, but he has to do a hell of a lot in order to convince me.

Carpentier - Very Small Chance - Like Gordon, Villeneuve, etc, should be a force on the road courses, but unless Evernham has things shaped up, and Carpentier can show he can run on the ovals (which unlike Villeneuve and Montoya, he hasnt had much time to race on other tracks until VERY late compared to the two), I doubt there wont be much chance for him making the chase.

To list in order who I think will make the chase from best chance to worst:

1. Montoya

2. Mears

3. Franchitti

4. Smith

5. Gordon

6. Carpentier

7. Hornish

8. Allmendinger

9. Villeneuve

Other than Franchitti, I really dont see this year's Rookie class being any good.

Mears, Montoya both have good chances of geting into the chase but I'm going to give it out to Mears. Montoya had more success in Open Wheel Driving, Mears has more success also he has been racing longer than Montoya in NASCAR, Mears is swiching teams, giving Montoya a chance at making the chase but, i'm going to have to stay with Mears.

I would say Casey Mears has the best chance followed by Juan Pablo Montoya. The edge goes to Casey because of having much better equipment.

Out of the choices given, I'd have to say Casey Mears. It will be his second year with HMS, and we know how good the #5 was for Shrub.

Montoya is still a bit too reckless in my opinion, and Hornish might surprise some folks, but my choice would be Mears, if anyone from that group.

Casey Mears, Juan Pablo a distant 2nd.

Casey Mears

I`m gonna go with Casey Mears

2 reasons The Mears, are serious racers

He is driving a Rick Hendrick car

Casey Mears #5

I hate montoya

I'd do with Juan Pablo...even though Casey Mears has left open wheel several yrs ago, since he is in a Hendrick car, he could easily make it....

Juan-Pablo Montoya