By request (thanks, Wikipedia): Bruno "Junky" Junqueira (born November 4, 1976) is a Brazilian racecar driver and veteran of the Champ Car World Series.





Early career

 Junqueira started racing go-karts in Brazil and dominated Formula Three Sudamericana before moving to Formula 3000. He tested for the Williams Formula 1 team for many years, and came close to landing a race drive in 2000, losing out to Jenson Button. He rebounded from this setback, winning that year's International Formula 3000 Championship.
 
 [edit] Champ Car

 In 2001 Junqueira joined the CART Championship Car series driving for Chip Ganassi Racing where he had immediate success, capturing a win in his 14th race and finished second in points with two wins the following year. In 2003 Ganassi left to the rival Indy Racing League and Junqueira joined Newman/Haas Racing, the top team remaining in what was now the Champ Car World Series. He captured series runner up honors in both 2003 and 2004, capturing two wins in each of those seasons. He also drove in the Indianapolis 500 four times for both Ganassi and Newman/Haas in one-off appearances. In 2002, he qualified for the pole position, and he twice finished 5th in the race.
 In 2005, Junqueira was injured in an accident in the Indianapolis 500, while lapping A.J. Foyt IV. Due to his injuries, he missed the remainder of the 2005 Champ Car season. Junqueira was the Champ Car points leader at the time, having won the second race of the year in Monterrey, Mexico. Veteran Oriol Servia took his place and finished runner-up in the standings.
 In 2006 he returned to the cockpit at Newman/Haas but for the first time in his career he did not win a race and only finished fifth in the championship while his teammate Sebastien Bourdais won his third straight title. He was replaced in the second Newman/Haas car in 2007 by rookie Graham Rahal and Junqueira signed to drive for perennial backmarker team Dale Coyne Racing as teammate to the inexperienced Katherine Legge. However, Junquiera delivered results like that team had never seen before, finishing seventh in the championship and three consecutive podium finishes late in the season, nearly capturing the team's first win at Circuit Zolder.
 
 [edit] IndyCar Series

 Prior to the 2008, Champ Car unified with the rival Indy Racing League to form a single united IndyCar Series. Junqueira will return to Dale Coyne Racing and be the driver of the #18 car for the team's first season in the new series alongside rookie Brazilian countryman Mario Moraes.

Whoo hoo Bruno, lets rock!  I mean race.

This database error stinks!  I can only do quick replies!

Well, hang int here, guys--whether not the forum is fixed, the race will go on!

Don't know what you mean.  Over here mines good to go.:confused:

Nah, we're back.

So, what does everyone think of their chances of a win?  A top 3 finish?  Finishing 33d?

Crash and burn.

Quote from: Roger CalverCrash and burn.

C'mon now, Rog, you've got an Andretti!  One of the ones who knows what he's doing!  He's a cagey vet!

Thats true but when I get a horse in the sweepstake for the Grand National every time its a 3 legged blind donkey

I see top3 out of this, baby!  Maybe even 1st place, going for the gold while the rest of ya are watching from the front row seats (of your cars behind me).

I'm thinking top-10 for my guy. Sounds reasonably optimistic without going nuts.

It's spell casting time
and they all need to rhyme
so here we have a go with it
I predict my place in the winners pit

:wizard:

Quote from: WerekoalaI'm thinking top-10 for my guy. Sounds reasonably optimistic without going nuts.

Jeff Simmons could easily do that.  He was 11th last year, and has a reasonably fast vehicle.  He also resides in Indy, so I like him.

Oh!  Simmons also ran in the Indy Lights race out there today, finishing eighth!

Here's the schedule of events, for those interested.  Some of these may seem odd to those who don't know the race, but having Gomer Pyle and Mrs. Brady sing is part of the tradition:

Information about 92nd Indianapolis 500 activity Sunday, May 25 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:


  DAY: 92nd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race


 SCHEDULE (all times local):
    6 a.m. Public Gates Open        

8 a.m. Spectacle of Bands        

10 a.m. Celebrity Red Carpet Walk hosted by "EXTRA!," Pagoda Plaza        

10:30 a.m. Cars Begin Entering Pit Lane        

11 a.m. Demonstration lap by 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden        

11:15 a.m. "On the Banks of the Wabash" - Purdue University All American Marching Band        

11:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Pre-race concert featuring Jack's Mannequin, Coke Zero Stage, Pagoda Plaza        

11:30 a.m. Celebrity/VIP Laps         11:50 a.m. Engine warm-up begins        

12:09 p.m. Military Recognition Lap and March        

12:32 p.m. Driver Introductions, Yard of Bricks        

12:48 p.m. Message from General Victor E. Renuart, Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command        

12:51 p.m. "God Bless America" performed by Florence Henderson, Victory Podium        

12:54 p.m. National Anthem performed by Julianne Hough, Victory Podium           Flyover by two F-16 Vipers and two F/A-18 Hornets from the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, home of TOPGUN, based out of Naval Air Station, Fallon, Nev.        

12:56 p.m. "Drivers to Your Cars" Announcement        

12:58 p.m. Invocation given by Rev. Daniel Buechlein, Archbishop of Indianapolis, Victory Podium        

1 p.m. "Taps" performed by Byron Bartosh, Pagoda Stage        

1:02 p.m. "Back Home Again in Indiana" performed by Jim Nabors, Victory Podium        

1:03 p.m. Command to Start Engines - Mari Hulman George, Victory Podium        

1:04 p.m. Pace Laps -- 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Driver Emerson Fittipaldi        

1:11 p.m. Green flag for 92nd Indianapolis 500 waved by Kristi Yamaguchi, 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist        

6 p.m. Track Closes

   
  TICKETS: Tickets for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 remain available Race Morning. Fans wanting to attend the race need to go to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office at the corner of 16th Street and Georgetown Road or at one of the three satellite ticket offices, located at Gates 1, 3, 6, and 9. Tickets start at $20 for general admission. All ticket offices will open at 6 a.m. and remain open until 1 p.m.
 PUBLIC GATES OPEN: 6 a.m. (local time). All gates open
 STANDS OPEN: All stands, viewing mounds open except Gasoline Alley Roof

Here's what's gonna happen:  

Dan Wheldon, my guy, is gonna win.  Yes!  And I will trumpet the fact, and wave it in your faces, and laugh at you and you will cry!  And all the game stuffs will go to ME!

THEN, when it's all Vampire and Wraith and Star Wars d20 books, then I will weep and you will laugh!  At ME!  

So it'll be a comedy.  Three out of four stars.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Here's what's gonna happen:  

Dan Wheldon, my guy, is gonna win.  Yes!  And I will trumpet the fact, and wave it in your faces, and laugh at you and you will cry!  And all the game stuffs will go to ME!

THEN, when it's all Vampire and Wraith and Star Wars d20 books, then I will weep and you will laugh!  At ME!  

So it'll be a comedy.  Three out of four stars.

Wraith purchase into stove for fuel>