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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Miller’s Toronto Notebook
Chip Ganassi says, "Calm everybody down and tell them I'm fine," and Tags stars at home while AGR is completely lost at Toronto.
Chip Ganassi will watch Toronto from home while still recovering from eye surgery, reports Robin Miller. (LAT)
Chip Ganassi watched Dario Franchitti win the pole at Toronto on Saturday and spoke with managing director Mike Hull afterwards, as has been the custom the past 18 years. The only difference in the routine is that Ganassi was sitting in front of his computer at his Pittsburgh home instead of perched on his pit box in Canada.
Following some major eye surgery a few weeks ago at the Mayo Clinic, Ganassi has missed the past three IndyCar races as he heals from the delicate operation. And, as bad as it's been not being at the race track, he can't venture outside much during the daytime hours.
"The reason I'm not at the races is because they put drops in my eye and it's dilated all the time," explained the owner of the Target team whose drivers Scott Dixon and Franchitti rank 1-2 in the point standings for the second straight week.
"The issue is that if I go out in the sun, my brain goes goofy because my one eye wants to stay open. That's why I'd have a better chance at going to a night race."
Ganassi, who previously had never missed two IndyCar races in a row, missed Franchitti's win at Iowa and Dixon's victory at Richmond but may be back for the night show at Kentucky.
He also wants to dispell the rumors he's gravely ill..
"Calm everybody down and tell them I'm fine," he said. "Thanks to my computer, I haven't missed anything except the people."
TAGS TERRIFIC, PT STRUGGLES
A Canadian driver thrilled his countrymen Saturday in qualifying but it was Alex Tagliani instead of local favorite Paul Tracy.
Tagliani, who has missed the past three races because his Conquest Racing team doesn't have a full season budget, damn near stole the show and wound up fifth fastest of the 23 starters for Sunday's Honda Indy Toronto.
The 35-year-old veteran beat Scott Dixon and both full-time Penske drivers, Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe, in addition to turning the quickest lap of the entire session during the second session of knockout qualifying.
"It is no fun sitting at home on the couch watching the races, it's very tough," said the Montreal native. "We don't get to test or do any development on our car, we have to save our money for race weekends and pick the races that are best for our sponsors.
"That's why today was so rewarding, We beat two Penske cars and one Ganassi car and this whole team did a helluva job."
Tracy, who grew up in a Toronto suburb and is a two-time winner here, had quick time during Saturday morning's practice in the rain and just missed on making the first cut.
"We missed advancing into the Top 12 by a hundredth of a second and that is so damn disappointing," said the Thrill From West Hill who lines up 15th. "We had a good car yesterday and again this morning but I just couldn't squeeze any more speed out of it.
"It's frustrating and the race is going to be tough but it's a street circuit and anything can happen. I just wish we were starting further up in the field."
MISERABLE DAY FOR AGR
Andretti-Green Racing is promoting IndyCar's first visit to Exhibition Park but it certainly is having a forgettable weekend on the track.
AGR's drivers wound up qualifying 17th, 18th, 20th and 22nd in a day that began with Tony Kanaan crashing hard on his first lap on the track.
"Obviously, it's been a frustrating day for me and for the whole team," said Kanaan, whose 7-Eleven team did a yeoman job to repair his car after he backed into the wall on the wet, slick track. "I was going 65 mph when I hit the wall this morning and you feel like such a wanker because I wasn't trying to go fast.
"I'd only done a few corners and it was like I hit ice."
The impact destroyed the gearbox, rear wing and both rightside suspensions and after TK's crew scrambled to make the No. 2 qualifying session, he promptly spun and teammate Hidecki Mutoh hit the tire wall to avoid him.
Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick comprise Row 9, while Kanaan must come from Row 10 and Mutoh Row 11.
"It's not where any of us wanted to be but hopefully we can bounce back tomorrow," said Kanaan.
NOTES & QUOTES
Ryan Briscoe, who captured the season opener at St. Pete on a street circuit, was uncharacteristically uncompetitive after advancing into the Top 12. He wound up 11th and said afterwards: "I couldn't get the tires to come in or to grip and it was a struggle," he said..........Will Power, the third driver for Team Penske who has been out of the car since Indianapolis, showed again he belongs in a full-time ride qualifying on the outside of the front row. "I just did my job and I really like driving for this team, I'd rather run part-time for them than full-time for somebody else and be near the back," said the 2007 Toronto winner (Champ Car). .........Graham Rahal, who continues to impress under pressure, moved from eighth to second and into the Fast Six on his final two laps in Q2 and then secured the third starting spot in his McDonald's Special. "We weren't very competitive yesterday but these guys keep grinding and we're very happy to be starting where we are," said the 20-year-old prodigy. "I think it's going to be a wild race."....Justin Wilson, coming off his first victory of 2009 and the initial W for owner Dale Coyne, continued to shine and starts fourth in the Z Line Design........The biggest gainer of the weekend was Ed Carpenter, who picked up two seconds from practice to qualifying in his Menard's Special and wound up out-qualifying Kanaan, Dan Wheldon and Mutoh.
Following some major eye surgery a few weeks ago at the Mayo Clinic, Ganassi has missed the past three IndyCar races as he heals from the delicate operation. And, as bad as it's been not being at the race track, he can't venture outside much during the daytime hours.
"The reason I'm not at the races is because they put drops in my eye and it's dilated all the time," explained the owner of the Target team whose drivers Scott Dixon and Franchitti rank 1-2 in the point standings for the second straight week.
"The issue is that if I go out in the sun, my brain goes goofy because my one eye wants to stay open. That's why I'd have a better chance at going to a night race."
Ganassi, who previously had never missed two IndyCar races in a row, missed Franchitti's win at Iowa and Dixon's victory at Richmond but may be back for the night show at Kentucky.
He also wants to dispell the rumors he's gravely ill..
"Calm everybody down and tell them I'm fine," he said. "Thanks to my computer, I haven't missed anything except the people."
TAGS TERRIFIC, PT STRUGGLES
A Canadian driver thrilled his countrymen Saturday in qualifying but it was Alex Tagliani instead of local favorite Paul Tracy.
Tagliani, who has missed the past three races because his Conquest Racing team doesn't have a full season budget, damn near stole the show and wound up fifth fastest of the 23 starters for Sunday's Honda Indy Toronto.
The 35-year-old veteran beat Scott Dixon and both full-time Penske drivers, Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe, in addition to turning the quickest lap of the entire session during the second session of knockout qualifying.
"It is no fun sitting at home on the couch watching the races, it's very tough," said the Montreal native. "We don't get to test or do any development on our car, we have to save our money for race weekends and pick the races that are best for our sponsors.
"That's why today was so rewarding, We beat two Penske cars and one Ganassi car and this whole team did a helluva job."
Tracy, who grew up in a Toronto suburb and is a two-time winner here, had quick time during Saturday morning's practice in the rain and just missed on making the first cut.
"We missed advancing into the Top 12 by a hundredth of a second and that is so damn disappointing," said the Thrill From West Hill who lines up 15th. "We had a good car yesterday and again this morning but I just couldn't squeeze any more speed out of it.
"It's frustrating and the race is going to be tough but it's a street circuit and anything can happen. I just wish we were starting further up in the field."
MISERABLE DAY FOR AGR
Andretti-Green Racing is promoting IndyCar's first visit to Exhibition Park but it certainly is having a forgettable weekend on the track.
AGR's drivers wound up qualifying 17th, 18th, 20th and 22nd in a day that began with Tony Kanaan crashing hard on his first lap on the track.
"Obviously, it's been a frustrating day for me and for the whole team," said Kanaan, whose 7-Eleven team did a yeoman job to repair his car after he backed into the wall on the wet, slick track. "I was going 65 mph when I hit the wall this morning and you feel like such a wanker because I wasn't trying to go fast.
"I'd only done a few corners and it was like I hit ice."
The impact destroyed the gearbox, rear wing and both rightside suspensions and after TK's crew scrambled to make the No. 2 qualifying session, he promptly spun and teammate Hidecki Mutoh hit the tire wall to avoid him.
Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick comprise Row 9, while Kanaan must come from Row 10 and Mutoh Row 11.
"It's not where any of us wanted to be but hopefully we can bounce back tomorrow," said Kanaan.
NOTES & QUOTES
Ryan Briscoe, who captured the season opener at St. Pete on a street circuit, was uncharacteristically uncompetitive after advancing into the Top 12. He wound up 11th and said afterwards: "I couldn't get the tires to come in or to grip and it was a struggle," he said..........Will Power, the third driver for Team Penske who has been out of the car since Indianapolis, showed again he belongs in a full-time ride qualifying on the outside of the front row. "I just did my job and I really like driving for this team, I'd rather run part-time for them than full-time for somebody else and be near the back," said the 2007 Toronto winner (Champ Car). .........Graham Rahal, who continues to impress under pressure, moved from eighth to second and into the Fast Six on his final two laps in Q2 and then secured the third starting spot in his McDonald's Special. "We weren't very competitive yesterday but these guys keep grinding and we're very happy to be starting where we are," said the 20-year-old prodigy. "I think it's going to be a wild race."....Justin Wilson, coming off his first victory of 2009 and the initial W for owner Dale Coyne, continued to shine and starts fourth in the Z Line Design........The biggest gainer of the weekend was Ed Carpenter, who picked up two seconds from practice to qualifying in his Menard's Special and wound up out-qualifying Kanaan, Dan Wheldon and Mutoh.
INDYCAR BRAZIL
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