FAZZT Repays Junqueira For 2009 Kindness With 2010 Indy 500 Ride
March 30, 2010 | By Paul Kelly
2002 Indianapolis 500 pole winner Bruno Junqueira will drive a second entry for FAZZT Race Team in the 2010 edition of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" as a teammate to Alex Tagliani, team officials announced March 30.
Junqueira, from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, will drive the No. 33 entry in an attempt to qualify for the race Sunday, May 30 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"I am thrilled with the opportunity to compete for the FAZZT Race Team at the Indianapolis 500," Junqueira said. "The team will give me the resources and support to compete in a car that has the capabilities of winning at the Indianapolis 500.
"To win at Indianapolis has always been a dream of mine. I've had some very competitive opportunities at Indianapolis, and in each year I've led laps and scored two top-five finishes at the Speedway. I hope that in 2010 I am able to complete my dream of a win at Indianapolis since I have been so close in the past."
Junqueira has made five Indianapolis 500 starts, with a best finish of fifth in 2001 and 2004. He won the pole in 2002 at 231.342 mph in a Chip Ganassi Racing entry.
In 2009, Junqueira qualified 30th in a Conquest Racing entry on Bump Day but graciously turned over the car to Tagliani for the race, as Tagliani failed to qualify.
"Because we have enough sponsorship to run a second car at Indianapolis, we felt it important to give that chance to Bruno," said Tagliani, FAZZT's full-time driver in the IZOD IndyCar Series. "Last year with Bruno as the second driver in the team I was at, he let his spot in the field go after I had a mishap in qualifying. And it turned out, I had a pretty good race at the Indy 500 so it is nice way to say thank you to Bruno for what he did for me last year."
Tagliani finished 11th in 2009 and was named Indianapolis 500 Chase Rookie of the Year.
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2010 Indy 500 tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 30, are on sale now. Race Day ticket prices start at just $20.
Fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.