-
Home
- TV Shows
- TV Schedule
- 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
MILLER: The Thrill Isn’t Gone
A week after JWill won at Watkins Glen, Alex Tagliani and Paul Tracy had their countrymen standing and their competition reeling in Toronto.
After viewing the accident again Sunday night, PT's changed his tune about it being a 'racing incident,' says Miller. (LAT)
IndyCar’s two big dogs wound up hogging the podium Sunday afternoon at Toronto but for a long time it was looking like the underdogs were going to chew up Target/Ganassi and Team Penske for a second straight race.
A week removed from Justin Wilson spanking everyone at Watkins Glen and giving Dale Coyne his first W, Alex Tagliani and Paul Tracy had their countrymen standing and their competition reeling.
The veterans were running 1-2 and all was right with the little world inside Exhibition Place for the estimated 20,000 Canucks.
Unfortunately, the storybook ending got sidetracked by an untimely yellow flag for Tag and a Turn 3 tangle between P.T. and Helio Castroneves as they finished eighth and 19th, respectively.
But those two part-timers, coupled with some good hard racing and the usual mayhem, turned the otherwise mundane street circuit into a damn entertaining show.
Tags and Tracy didn’t get the results they deserved but they again proved they belong in the series at every event instead of a handful of them and their teams proved you don’t need millions of dollars, wind tunnels and shaker rigs to run up front on a road course.
After sitting out the last three races due to financial constraints, Conquest Racing DROVE from Indy to Toronto in vans. The Hyatt Regency Toronto footed their hotel rooms in exchange for some on-car exposure and the Rexhall Edmonton Indy and King Tut Exhibition sponsorships were joined by Sears Canada, Craftsman and The Keg or Eric Bachelart’s team would not have made it.
Tagliani was brilliant in qualifying, turning the quickest lap of the day in Round 2, and winding up fifth fastest in the 23-car field.
The 36-year-old native of Quebec made a great start and tucked in behind polesitter Dario Franchitti as they funneled through Turn 1. After Franchitti pitted on Lap 24, Tags led 21 of the next 35 laps and appeared to be in the catbird seat despite all the different fuel strategies.
But, just like in 2001 at Toronto when Alex had everyone covered but lost to Michael Andretti because of a bad break on a caution, a full-course yellow flew just as Dario pitted on Lap 59 and by the time Tags pitted after the packup, he was shuttled back to 11th place.
“That’s life,” he said with a grin to owner Eric Bachelart as he took off his helmet following the checkered flag. “I mean, I’m not going to lie, it’s frustrating to have the best car and not win this race.
“We waited to pit and paid the price and we probably needed too come in sooner, when the other guys up front were pitting. But you never know. It’s just a shame because we at least deserved to be on the podium.”
Tags hadn’t led a race since 2007 in Champ Car and there’s no doubt his experience on the tight, tricky Toronto track helped his cause. But he and engineer Brandon Fry haven’t exactly spent a lot of time with their Dallara chassis.
“We haven’t tested and we hadn’t been on a road course since Long Beach (April) so yes, my experience here certainly helps, but everyone else has been driving almost every week and we’re still trying to learn this car,” he said. “My guys did a helluva job all weekend.”
Tags’ efforts earned him steady cheers all three days but his old sparing partner from CART stole the show and educated the first-time Indy Racing Leaguers on what fan support is all about.
A week removed from Justin Wilson spanking everyone at Watkins Glen and giving Dale Coyne his first W, Alex Tagliani and Paul Tracy had their countrymen standing and their competition reeling.
The veterans were running 1-2 and all was right with the little world inside Exhibition Place for the estimated 20,000 Canucks.
Unfortunately, the storybook ending got sidetracked by an untimely yellow flag for Tag and a Turn 3 tangle between P.T. and Helio Castroneves as they finished eighth and 19th, respectively.
But those two part-timers, coupled with some good hard racing and the usual mayhem, turned the otherwise mundane street circuit into a damn entertaining show.
Tags and Tracy didn’t get the results they deserved but they again proved they belong in the series at every event instead of a handful of them and their teams proved you don’t need millions of dollars, wind tunnels and shaker rigs to run up front on a road course.
After sitting out the last three races due to financial constraints, Conquest Racing DROVE from Indy to Toronto in vans. The Hyatt Regency Toronto footed their hotel rooms in exchange for some on-car exposure and the Rexhall Edmonton Indy and King Tut Exhibition sponsorships were joined by Sears Canada, Craftsman and The Keg or Eric Bachelart’s team would not have made it.
Tagliani was brilliant in qualifying, turning the quickest lap of the day in Round 2, and winding up fifth fastest in the 23-car field.
The 36-year-old native of Quebec made a great start and tucked in behind polesitter Dario Franchitti as they funneled through Turn 1. After Franchitti pitted on Lap 24, Tags led 21 of the next 35 laps and appeared to be in the catbird seat despite all the different fuel strategies.
But, just like in 2001 at Toronto when Alex had everyone covered but lost to Michael Andretti because of a bad break on a caution, a full-course yellow flew just as Dario pitted on Lap 59 and by the time Tags pitted after the packup, he was shuttled back to 11th place.
“That’s life,” he said with a grin to owner Eric Bachelart as he took off his helmet following the checkered flag. “I mean, I’m not going to lie, it’s frustrating to have the best car and not win this race.
“We waited to pit and paid the price and we probably needed too come in sooner, when the other guys up front were pitting. But you never know. It’s just a shame because we at least deserved to be on the podium.”
Tags hadn’t led a race since 2007 in Champ Car and there’s no doubt his experience on the tight, tricky Toronto track helped his cause. But he and engineer Brandon Fry haven’t exactly spent a lot of time with their Dallara chassis.
“We haven’t tested and we hadn’t been on a road course since Long Beach (April) so yes, my experience here certainly helps, but everyone else has been driving almost every week and we’re still trying to learn this car,” he said. “My guys did a helluva job all weekend.”
Tags’ efforts earned him steady cheers all three days but his old sparing partner from CART stole the show and educated the first-time Indy Racing Leaguers on what fan support is all about.
INDYCAR BRAZIL
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
V8: Nissan Coming To Grips With New Altima
John Dagys explores Nissan's new factory venture in V8 Supercars… -
V8: COTA Saturday Notebook
John Dagys explores some of the storylines from Saturday’s… -
V8: Whincup Sweeps Saturday's Rounds At COTA
Red Bull Racing goes 1-2 in opening rounds of V8 Supercars at Circuit… -
ELMS: TDS Oreca-Nissan Wins Imola
Mathias Beche, Pierre Thiriet claim victory in second round of European… -
INDYCAR: Ed Carpenter Scores Shock Indy 500 Pole At 228.782 MPH
Carpenter had the Brickyard in a state of rapture as he knocked off… -
V8: Coulthard, Whincup On Top In Qualifying At COTA
Brad Jones Racing and Red Bull Racing Australia end up on top for… -
PHOTOS: V8 Supercars COTA Gallery
UPDATED: View more than 90 photos from Austin as V8 Supercar drivers… - More News
