After qualifying his FAZZT Racing Dallara-Honda in 7th fplace or the Long Beach Grand Prix, Alex Tagliani did not expect the problems he encountered once the race had begun.
For starters, Tagliani had a run-in with Marco Andretti on the very first lap. Fortunately both drivers were able to continue without any damages. Tagliani was 8th when he went in for his first scheduled pit stop on lap 29.
But, because of a glitch with the fuelling rig, the team was not able to fill up the car up to capacity, and the FAZZT driver was forced to return for an unscheduled visit to gas alley on lap 49. Once done, the Canadian was 20th.
To make matters worse, atthe restart on lap 65,following a yellow caused by the accident between Andretti and Mario Romancini (Conquest), Tagliani, while trying to gain a position, tangled with Simona de Silvestro’s (HVM) car and damaged his suspension beyond repairs.
« We had a terrible day and I feel sad for the team, » declaresdTagliani. « There was that small contact on lap one and, then, we had this problem with the refuelling rig on the first stop. »
« Right at this moment, we knew that things were not going our way and that we were in a tight spot! » concluded the veteran driver.
For starters, Tagliani had a run-in with Marco Andretti on the very first lap. Fortunately both drivers were able to continue without any damages. Tagliani was 8th when he went in for his first scheduled pit stop on lap 29.
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| photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com |
But, because of a glitch with the fuelling rig, the team was not able to fill up the car up to capacity, and the FAZZT driver was forced to return for an unscheduled visit to gas alley on lap 49. Once done, the Canadian was 20th.
To make matters worse, atthe restart on lap 65,following a yellow caused by the accident between Andretti and Mario Romancini (Conquest), Tagliani, while trying to gain a position, tangled with Simona de Silvestro’s (HVM) car and damaged his suspension beyond repairs.
« We had a terrible day and I feel sad for the team, » declaresdTagliani. « There was that small contact on lap one and, then, we had this problem with the refuelling rig on the first stop. »
« Right at this moment, we knew that things were not going our way and that we were in a tight spot! » concluded the veteran driver.
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| photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com |