Junquiera's Best Season?

[Snrub]

Which season do you think was Junquiera's Best? Explainations encouraged, but not required.

2002 - Runner up to CDM's dominant season. Was on Ganassi's team with a Toyota Lola, which was the dominant combination that year. 2nd place was bitterly fought over with Carpentier who was on Forsythe's team with a Ford Reynard. Wins at Motegi and Denver. 2 2nd and 2 3rd place finishes. 164 points.
2003 - Runner up to PT's long awaited championship. Beat rookie teammate Bourdais and the points went down to the last race @ Surfers. Won at RA and Denver. 3 2nd and 4 3rd place finishes. 199 points
2004 - Runner up to Bourdais's championship. Wins at Montreal and Surfers. 7 2nd place finishes and a 3rd.

It's not all about the stats, I just thought I'd include that stuff to add in the discussion, etc.

[Kicking-back]

2003 - Genuinely in the title hunt all year - without being reliant on a silly points system.

[MLM]

Hmmmm...being a "Bruno fan", I need to ponder on this one.
2002 was a diverse year for him (wins on both an oval and on a road course, plus the pole @Indy...are we counting JUST CART/OWRS performances or all-around?). He finished 2nd to a very dominant season by CdM.

2003: he stayed in the hunt most of the year. One could make the arugments about the point system and the "weak field" (as with the 2004 season).

2004: he finished most of his races (the only DNF, IIRC, was Toronto) and did take the championship to the last race (albeit, a slim chance). He also made a valient effort at Indy which was a distraction, IMO, to his year (but not in a negative way, IMO). I thought Bruno used his head and drove smart this year....perhaps a little too conservative, but he finished most of his races.

My first choice, believe it or not, would be 2004....but I'm not voting yet. I'll let you know when I make the final choice.

Please remember folks, this is about Bruno's DRIVING and NOT about his personality.

[Adam43]

2002. For an odd reason. His performance in 2002 meant that many assumed he would just be champ in 2003, but didn't live up to the early promise of 2003. I think his performances in '03 were on a par with '02, but no better - this in a bizarre way means he under-performed (for such a new driver to the series he should still be achieving).

2004. Same again, maybe less so!

I hope I am wrong, but it seems he has plateaued. He was up to a high standard in '02 and has got no better, which is odd for someone so new to a series.

[Hazza]

Well, I personally am in a bit of a limbo.

2002 - I seem to remember him realy only getting 2nd in the title because of all the poor luck that Dario had (Mechanical probs, being take out by paul etc), but saying that I do belive he earned that position with some solid finishes.

Or

2003 - Had a good year, could've won the title except for bad luck/stupid things like that stupid move he pulled on Fernandez.

hmmm... I voted for 2002 as it was my favorite year in general.

[Snrub]

I went against the grain and voted for 2004. I really felt that he basically had second place in 2002 because no one was consistant. He had the right package, if anyone could have kept CDM a little closer it was him. Dario and Pat had lesser equipment. In 2003 I really felt he was only in it because between dominating wins PT DNFed, etc. Did he ever really "out race" PT? In neither season did he really look like he had the speed. In 2004 he had some pretty poor races, but he also had a number where he was fairly close to Bourdais or even faster. Junquiera is often a very conservative driver and that alone isn't enough to deserve 1st place, let alone 2nd. I felt like he improved as a driver in 2004 with a more aggressive approach.

I don't remember when Dario was taken out by PT in 2002?

[jjspierx]

When wasn't Dario taken out by PT is the better question. But seriously, there were two if not 3 races that I remember that happening. One for sure was Laguna Seca on the opening lap. He tapped Dario from behind braking into T2 and Dario went spinning off the track.

[Hazza]

Other was that really bumpy street course who's name i'm not going to mention, and in the "mile wide turn'' on the opening lap PT took out Dario,making him a very un-happy camper.

Then again, after Dario had engine probs at Elkheart, didn't Bj take out PT in a wild move in the closing laps? Pfft Details - I'm getting OT anyhow...

[Snrub]

That's right I do remember the Denver incident now. I don't remember the Laguna or Elkhart situations...brain no worky.

[macdaddy]

I was on Belle Isle when Al Jr's teammate bumped him into the tires in the late stages of the race, to take the win.

But I ain't knockin' PT's driving style. He's never injured anybody and he's won races and a championship. He's the "Intimidator" of ChampCar racing.

[Snrub]

I think for the most part in PT's career he hasn't tried to knock people off in "Intimidator" style, but he was just so out of control that he couldn't stop himself from making stupid moves. To be honest that sort of behaviour made me really dislike PT. It wasn't until he calmed himself down that I could feel anything positive towards him.

[MLM]

How on earth did we get onto PT!? Let's do a thread about HIS best season (or did we already do that?)

Anyway, I'm still pondering Bruno's best season. It's interesting to read some of your assessments.