Mi-Jack Conquest Racing drivers Andrew Ranger and Nelson Philippe finished eighth and thirteenth in Sunday's Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland presented by US Bank after a poorly timed yellow flag prevented the team from showing their full potential
source: Mi-Jack Conquest Racing Despite the setback, Ranger was able to recover and finish well enough to take the lead in the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year standings. Ranger started the race from a career-best fourth on the grid, and emerged from a battle with Alex Tagliani to run in the lead pack in the early stages of the race, moving up to third on lap 26 just before a planned pit stop. Unfortunately, a yellow flag flew for debris on the track and the pits were closed, but Ranger had no choice but to pit as he was nearly out of fuel in his Tide/Mi-Jack machine. As a penalty, Champ Car officials moved Ranger out of his competitive position and to the back of the field, eliminating his opportunity for another podium finish. "It was very questionable to me about the yellow flag for debris, and the stewards knew we were nearly out of fuel, so this decision was I think a hard one to accept," said team co-owner Eric Bachelart. "Everybody was very close to the pit window for fuel, so the luck factor was very big, a bit like a lottery, and unfortunately our luck just wasn't good today." Despite the penalty, Ranger once again put his head down and moved himself back up the order thanks to a fast car, a good pitstop from the Mi-Jack Conquest Racing crew, and some on-track passes. With less than ten laps to go, Ranger again had raced up to third in the order, but after Champ Car officials changed the race distance during the race, he was forced to stop once again for fuel and fell to eighth at the finish.
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