Thoughts on Junquiera's Season

[BootsOntheSide]

PT lost titles by being fast but erratic and inconsistant. Bruno lost them (against a weaker field and with a stronger team around him) by being consistant but nto qutie fast enough. Once again, it's easier to tidy up speed than to speed up tidiness.

If da Matta's available, the only reason for keeping Bruno on would be contractual, as I'm sure either Cristiano or Seb (usually both) would be faster than him on any given day, and at least one would get the result.

[BSchneiderFan]

Junqueira does seem to lack that slight edge which distinguishes the good from the great. Maybe it's a mental thing; after all, it's starting to look as if Junqueira might never make it to F1. He's, what, 28, and hasn't been seriously linked to any openings for 2005, so by 2006 he'll have been overtaken by a younger generation which includes Bourdais but also people like Liuzzi, Kovalainen, Davidson, Piquet Jr, Rosberg Jr... Perhaps Junqueira needs to make that mental adjustment and settle in for the long haul in Champ Cars.

[Omega99]

Originally posted by Dov
2. Yes, it took PT around 10 years to win the Vanderbilt Cup, however, let's remember that before he joined Forsythe Racing in 2003 he was always considered to be the #2 and sometimes #3 driver on every team he was with in Champ Car. Paul also had to face a much stronger field of drivers on a yearly basis when compared to Junqueira.

True, but Bruno was definitely #2 to DaMatta, and #2 to Bourdais this year. Last year was the only year you could argue that he was number 1 at NH, and it just happened to be the season that PT turned it up and was absolutely phenominal. But yeah, as it stands Bruno hasn't been championship material. But he's close, and he's been so close for so long that it really does seem like just a matter of time before he is the best of the bunch. His F1 hopes do seem a little out of the question at this point, IMO.

[Snrub]

I always argue that in 2002 Carpentier put in a better performance in a lesser car than Bruno and was the more appropriate #2.

[BootsOntheSide]

Originally posted by Omega99
he's been so close for so long that it really does seem like just a matter of time before he is the best of the bunch.

As long as Bourdais and/or da Matta are in the Newman-Haas team, he won't be the best driver out there. And even if neither remain in 2006, guys like AJ, RHR and Wilson will probably have advanced their performances beyond what Bruno is capable of.

[MLM]

Oh brother! Talk to me when you all have strapped your butts into a car, won a few races, and have finished so highly in points 3 years running!

I will agree that IF CdM returns to CC and MAYBE with N-H, Bruno will need to be more agressive. THAT I will give you.

[BootsOntheSide]

He needs to be more aggressive against Seb. And remind me how many ChampCar races you've won? If you need to have achieved somethign yourself to pass any kind of comment, this'd be a quiet forum.