CART: Team Target heating up as it heads to Toronto
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 11, 2001
Gidley eager to show that second-place finish at Cleveland was no fluke
TORONTO -- Over the past several years, Target Chip Ganassi Racing has produced numerous magic moments on the racetrack. For example, in the final lap of the 1996 race at Laguna Seca, former Team Target driver Alex Zanardi made a breath-taking pass in the corkscrew turn to claim the victory. Four years later, former Team Target driver Juan Montoya, making his first appearance at the Indianapolis 500, dominated the field and claimed the championship. And, of course, there were the unprecedented four straight CART titles earned by Jimmy Vasser (1996), Zanardi (1997 and 1998) and Montoya (1999).
As it demonstrated July 1 at Cleveland, Target Chip Ganassi Racing still has some magic up its sleeve. Memo Gidley, making just his second appearance for Team Target, led 57 of the 100 laps, finished second, narrowly missing the first checkered flag of his Champ Car career. Although Gidley had not stepped foot into a Champ Car this year prior to his Team Target debut June 24 at Portland, the 30-year-old American is eager to show that it was talent, not smoke and mirrors, that produced his amazing magic at Cleveland.
"Cleveland was one of the best moments in my career," said Gidley, whose previous best finish was sixth at Road America in 2000. "I felt the race was mine to win. We had the dominant car out there, and I was hoping I could bring home my first win and the first win of the year for Team Target." Gidley is confident his success at Cleveland was no fluke, and is eager to prove it to his fans, sponsors and teammates who have supported him over the years.
I know we can have another great performance like we did the other week. I'm pretty familiar with the track in Toronto. In 1999, I started 15th and finished 12th. I'm confident I have a better car this year and I expect us to have a solid run this week. I'm very impressed with all of the people here at Team Target. They all know their roles and have a great way of communicating with each other."
Gidley's Team Target teammate is producing his share of magic this season, too. Bruno Junqueira, last year's European Formula 3000 champion, claimed a pole position in just his third event (Nazareth), finished fourth in his first-ever Indy 500 and has qualified an average of seventh in his past six events. The 24-year-old is certain he will join Gidley on the podium soon.
"We're looking forward to getting back into the championship hunt this weekend in Toronto," said Junqueira, who ranks 14th in the CART point standings. "We've had some bad luck over the last few races, but this team has shown it can be competitive every week. I'm looking forward to racing up in Toronto this week. The fans are great and it's a nice place to have a race. It will be important to have a good qualifying effort there. We've done very well in qualifying so far this year and I think that will help us this week."
The Team Target magic show continues Sunday, July 15 with the Molson Indy of Toronto. The race airs live at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
Text provided by Brian Zepp
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