|
Infineon
By A.J. Foyt
Photo Credit: Steve Swope
 Sonoma's
Infineon Raceway is a road course, located north of San Francisco in the heart
of California's wine country. It is the home track of my driver Jeff Bucknum who
began his racing career there 15 years ago.
It was at Infineon last year that Jeff made his first start for my ABC Supply
Racing team and he finished tenth that weekend. Returning to the track this
year, we were optimistic about his chances for a good finish.
Those hopes were knocked out before 10 laps of the Indy Car Grand Prix of Sonoma
were completed. Jeff was hit in the right rear by another eager rookie-Jeff
Simmons-trying to make something happen on a track where it's very hard to pass.
Infineon is a lot like the country roads surrounding it, two-lane roads where if
you get stuck behind someone, you're going to have hell getting by.
 We
came to the track with a different package from last year when we had the Chevy
engine and traction control in the cars This year everyone has Hondas which
leveled the playing field engine-wise but along with that change, the officials
also took away traction control. It's the same for everyone but this race was
the first road course that Jeff ran this year so unlike everyone else, he had to
adapt during the weekend. He adapted pretty good.
Starting 15th he made his way past Simmons on the first lap but Tomas Scheckter,
who started last, made his way into 14th that same lap so when Jeff came by us
he was still 15th. He had tried to pass Kosuke Matsuura in that first lap but
Matsuura closed the door on him allowing Scheckter to sneak past both of them.
 Jeff
settled in and began pressuring Matsuura. Unfortunately, at the end of lap nine,
Simmons shoved his car underneath Jeff going into the hairpin turn. Jeff was in
the racing groove and Simmons wasn't so even if Jeff hadn't turned in (which he
did), Simmons would have hit him because he smoked his car down in there and
wasn't going to make the tight turn anyway.
Simmons' car hit Jeff's car in the right rear which broke the No. 14's
suspension, the rocker arm to be exact. Jeff pitted because we thought we might
be able to fix the ABC Supply car but when we saw the damage, we knew it was
time to load up.
It worked out great for Simmons who finished seventh so I'm sure he felt that
was the way to go. I think he'll find out different eventually. In the long run,
that kind of aggressive driving hurts you because your fellow drivers will teach
you a lesson in manners at some point.
 If
we have to crash out, I'd rather crash out early and go home than crash right at
the end of the race. I guess that's why I took this one in stride. I also know
that Jeff has some learning curves to go through and I have to be more patient.
Speaking of learning curves, one rookie that has flattened them out is Marco
Andretti who won his first Indy car race Sunday. He had some good luck when his
teammate Bryan Herta spun bringing out a timely yellow flag which definitely
helped Andretti go the distance fuel-wise. Still, Marco and his team put
themselves in the position to win so you have to take your hat off to them. All
in all, he drove a smart race, one that his father and grandfather can be proud
of as I'm sure they are.
Second through fifth were Dario Franchitti, Vitor Meira with another fine run,
pole winner Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves.
Our next stop is the final race of the season at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet,
Ill. on Sunday, September 10th. The IRL IndyCar Series championship will be
decided at that race. With Team Penske drivers Castroneves and Sam Hornish being
separated by only a point, and Team Ganassi still having a mathematical chance
at winning, it should be a great race within a race. It will be televised live
on ABC-TV starting at 1:30 p.m. eastern time. I hope you'll tune in.
|
