-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Latest Headlines: NASCAR
-
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
IndyCar
INDY 500: Conquest Parks Junqueira In Favor Of Tagliani
One of the 'feel good' stories of Indy qualifying turned ugly Sunday night when Conquest Racing announced Bruno Junqueira would be parked in favor of the bumped Alex Tagliani.
A rusty Bruno Junqueira arrived Sunday and set a stunning speed in fewer laps than anyone thought imaginable. Now Bruno will watch the race from home in Miami. (LAT)
Bruno Junqueira wound up getting bumped from this year's Indianapolis 500, but not in the traditional way.
A few hours after Junky posted one of the most impressive qualifying runs of the month, owner Eric Bachelart informed the 32-year-old veteran that Alex Tagliani would be replacing him in Sunday's 93rd Indianapolis 500.
"I'm not happy with the situation and obviously it's very upsetting but I think Eric must have had some big money reasons to do it," said Junqueira late Sunday evening.
"I put my butt on the line today, did a good job and was very happy because Alex and I were both in the race. Now I don't feel very happy."
Tagliani got bumped by Ryan Hunter-Reay as the clock expired on time trials and Bachelart said late Sunday it was the worst possible situation.
"I felt so good to have two good drivers in the field and then I couldn't believe what happened in the last 10 minutes of qualifying," said Bachelart, referring to the flurry of bumping.
"We've had some sponsors following Tag all season, the Rexall people from Edmonton are coming to the race and we've got some other deals working and we were going to have to sacrifice Alex to keep Bruno in the car.
"So I went to Bruno and said I had a huge favor to ask him. I was sick to my stomach about it and he was very professional. I offered him compensation and I told him I'll do everything I can to put him in a car again some day. He was totally outstanding today and I am so impressed with him."
Despite having only a handful of practice laps in a car that didn't hit the track until Sunday morning, Junqueira qualified at 221.115 mph in his All Sports Dallara/Honda.
"Eric is a nice guy and he needed two cars in the race because he's a small team," said the 2002 Indy polesitter who drove for free the past two years for Dale Coyne. "Somebody came up to me after qualifying and asked me if I thought Eric might put Tags in the car and I said, 'Never say never in this business' but I thought I was safe. But this is what Eric wants.
"I'll tell you what is really sad. Half of this field is paying drivers."
A similar situation occurred at Indy in 1971 when Dick Simon, who had been bumped, replaced teammate John Mahler after Simon said his contractual obligations with sponsor Travel Lodge demanded he be in the car.
Rather than fly to New York Monday for the traditional photo for all 33 starters, Junqy will catch a flight further south. "I'll go home to Miami tomorrow and take my pregnant wife to the doctor," said Junquiera. "Then I guess I'll watch the race on television."
See this years Starting Lineup for the Indy 500
A few hours after Junky posted one of the most impressive qualifying runs of the month, owner Eric Bachelart informed the 32-year-old veteran that Alex Tagliani would be replacing him in Sunday's 93rd Indianapolis 500.
"I'm not happy with the situation and obviously it's very upsetting but I think Eric must have had some big money reasons to do it," said Junqueira late Sunday evening.
"I put my butt on the line today, did a good job and was very happy because Alex and I were both in the race. Now I don't feel very happy."
Tagliani got bumped by Ryan Hunter-Reay as the clock expired on time trials and Bachelart said late Sunday it was the worst possible situation.
"I felt so good to have two good drivers in the field and then I couldn't believe what happened in the last 10 minutes of qualifying," said Bachelart, referring to the flurry of bumping.
"We've had some sponsors following Tag all season, the Rexall people from Edmonton are coming to the race and we've got some other deals working and we were going to have to sacrifice Alex to keep Bruno in the car.
"So I went to Bruno and said I had a huge favor to ask him. I was sick to my stomach about it and he was very professional. I offered him compensation and I told him I'll do everything I can to put him in a car again some day. He was totally outstanding today and I am so impressed with him."
Despite having only a handful of practice laps in a car that didn't hit the track until Sunday morning, Junqueira qualified at 221.115 mph in his All Sports Dallara/Honda.
"Eric is a nice guy and he needed two cars in the race because he's a small team," said the 2002 Indy polesitter who drove for free the past two years for Dale Coyne. "Somebody came up to me after qualifying and asked me if I thought Eric might put Tags in the car and I said, 'Never say never in this business' but I thought I was safe. But this is what Eric wants.
"I'll tell you what is really sad. Half of this field is paying drivers."
A similar situation occurred at Indy in 1971 when Dick Simon, who had been bumped, replaced teammate John Mahler after Simon said his contractual obligations with sponsor Travel Lodge demanded he be in the car.
Rather than fly to New York Monday for the traditional photo for all 33 starters, Junqy will catch a flight further south. "I'll go home to Miami tomorrow and take my pregnant wife to the doctor," said Junquiera. "Then I guess I'll watch the race on television."
See this years Starting Lineup for the Indy 500
2013 INDY 500 Practice
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
INDYCAR: Helping Our Heroes
Inside Panther Racing's "Operation: Hire our Guard" program, which… -
INDYCAR: Inside IndyCar's New Speed, Safety And Technology Initiative…
INDYCAR's Derrick Walker takes Marshall Pruett through where the… -
PHOTOS: Indy 500 Carb Day 2013
Enjoy a selection of photos from Indy 500 Carb Day, including the… -
VIDEO: Amazing 4-Wide Finish To Indy Lights Freedom 100
Ireland's Peter Dempsey came from fourth at Turn 3 on the last lap… -
INDYCAR: Pagenaud Leads Indy 500 Carb Day Practice
After getting whooped in qualifying, Honda turns up the wick for… -
INDYCAR: Miller's Mailbag, 5.24
It's time for SPEED.com's weekly IndyCar Q&A with Robin Miller's… -
USAC: Honda To Sponsor National Midget Championship
Honda announced it would be the title sponsor for USAC’s National… - More News
