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Written by:
David Phillips
Senior writer, RACER Magazine http://www.racer.com/speedtv
Senior writer, RACER Magazine http://www.racer.com/speedtv
07/20/2008 - 07:46 PM
Lexington, Ohio
PLAYING HOOKY
Conquest Racing owner Eric Bachelart will be playing hookie next week when the IndyCar Series makes its inaugural visit to the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton. But he has a good excuse (not that he really needs one as the owner of the team): his 16-year-old son Eliott will be taking an important step in his own racing career in the days ahead. First, Eliott (and Eric) will head to Le Mans to take part in a two-day Formul’Academy test at the Bugatti Circuit next weekend. Following that, young Bachelart will be one of two drievrs representing Belgium in two rounds of the Formul’Academy Euro Series at Spa-Francorchamps on the weekend of August 1 and 2 as part of the annual 24 Hours of Spa.
“Yes, my team will be racing in Edmonton next weekend,” said Bachelart, “but this is a major event in my son’s life and career and I am, first of all, his father and then a race team owner. Besides, without me in Edmonton the team will probably finish on the podium and ask that I stay away from races more often!”
HE SAID/HE SAID
Not surprisingly, there were two different versions of the incident involving Justin Wilson and Mario Dominguez that triggered the four-car crash
eliminating Marco Andretti from the race and knocking Wilson out of contention for a possible win.
What is indisputable is that, as the field funneled around the Carousel into Turn 12 coming to a restart on Lap 43, Wilson and Dominguez made contact. Although Dominguez made it through unscathed, Wilson spun and Andretti, Darren Manning and A.J. Foyt IV collected one another in the ensuing melee.
How it started, though, is under some dispute.
“We had one backmarker who that said he was going to let me by on the restart,” said Wilson. “So when it went green, I thought he was going to let me by at the last corner and (he) just punted me around.”
Dominguez -- who was a couple of laps down after first spinning into the tire wall at the Keyhole and then taking a wild ride through the gravel trap at Turn Four when his rear wing fell off at 185 mph -- readily concedes that he agreed to let Wilson past. It’s just that he was waiting for the start/finish straightaway to do it.
“I was going to let him pass on the straightaway, he said. “Justin went on the outside and I just understeered and touched him. It was not my intention, but he left no room for me.”
Conquest Racing owner Eric Bachelart will be playing hookie next week when the IndyCar Series makes its inaugural visit to the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton. But he has a good excuse (not that he really needs one as the owner of the team): his 16-year-old son Eliott will be taking an important step in his own racing career in the days ahead. First, Eliott (and Eric) will head to Le Mans to take part in a two-day Formul’Academy test at the Bugatti Circuit next weekend. Following that, young Bachelart will be one of two drievrs representing Belgium in two rounds of the Formul’Academy Euro Series at Spa-Francorchamps on the weekend of August 1 and 2 as part of the annual 24 Hours of Spa.
“Yes, my team will be racing in Edmonton next weekend,” said Bachelart, “but this is a major event in my son’s life and career and I am, first of all, his father and then a race team owner. Besides, without me in Edmonton the team will probably finish on the podium and ask that I stay away from races more often!”
Who to blame for the big early crash? Depends who you ask. (Shawn Payne/IndyCar photo) ยป More Photos
HE SAID/HE SAID
Not surprisingly, there were two different versions of the incident involving Justin Wilson and Mario Dominguez that triggered the four-car crash
What is indisputable is that, as the field funneled around the Carousel into Turn 12 coming to a restart on Lap 43, Wilson and Dominguez made contact. Although Dominguez made it through unscathed, Wilson spun and Andretti, Darren Manning and A.J. Foyt IV collected one another in the ensuing melee.
How it started, though, is under some dispute.
“We had one backmarker who that said he was going to let me by on the restart,” said Wilson. “So when it went green, I thought he was going to let me by at the last corner and (he) just punted me around.”
Dominguez -- who was a couple of laps down after first spinning into the tire wall at the Keyhole and then taking a wild ride through the gravel trap at Turn Four when his rear wing fell off at 185 mph -- readily concedes that he agreed to let Wilson past. It’s just that he was waiting for the start/finish straightaway to do it.
“I was going to let him pass on the straightaway, he said. “Justin went on the outside and I just understeered and touched him. It was not my intention, but he left no room for me.”
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