Junqueira racing for his job

Mike Harris

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001 | 2:43 a.m.

Bruno Junqueira's first CART win was a big step toward job security.

Four days after finding out he's in competition with teammate Memo Gidley for the No. 2 ride next year with Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, Junqueira shot out of the pack and won at Road America.

Car owner Ganassi announced last week he has signed championship contender Kenny Brack to a three-year contract, beginning next season. There's not much question the former IRL and Indianapolis 500 champion will be the team's No. 1 driver.

A rookie who earned his job by winning last year's Formula 3000 championship in Europe, Junqueira hadn't pleased the demanding Ganassi. His last two discoveries - Alex Zanardi and Juan Montoya - ran at the front of the pack and won big in their rookie seasons, and accounted for three of the team's unprecedented four straight titles from 1996-99.

Junqueira's victory in the Motorola 220 was the first for the powerful Ganassi team in 14 races this season. Such a drought hadn't happened since 1995, and the car owner was becoming impatient.

Nicolas Minassian, the other rookie Ganassi brought over from Europe, was replaced at midseason by journeyman Gidley.

Once Ganassi had Brack lined up for next season, he challenged Junqueira and Gidley to earn the other ride.

"We'll see what happens," Ganassi said. "They've got plenty of time to show they can get the job done."

Junqueira, 15th in the series standings, responded with his first finish of better than fourth.

"You want to win every race, but it's not possible," the 24-year-old Brazilian said. "I don't think there is more pressure on the team now."

Mike Hull, Ganassi's team manager, likes both his current drivers and doesn't know what his boss plans to do about the second slot in 2002.

"Right now, both these guys are going as hard as they can and just trying to win some races," Hull said. "Both of them are capable of winning and we're going to concentrate on this season. We'll worry about next year after this season is over."

Junqueira agrees with that philosophy.

"When I came here to America, I didn't know what to expect," he said. "But I think I showed right from the start of the season that I had a lot of speed. I really thought that I could win a race early."

In his first oval event, he was on the pole. But Junqueira was never a factor and finished seventh in the Lehigh Valley Grand Prix on May 6 in Nazareth, Pa.

Nothing worked out that day, and there has been little to celebrate anywhere this year. But Junqueira continued to work hard, and it finally paid off.

"Now, we've got a win, and some drivers took years to win a race," he said.

Besides his own team, Junqueira has enjoyed the congratulations of a number of his competitors.

"I felt very good because I just came here and I already have some friendship with some drivers," he said. "They were really happy for me."

But Junqueira knows happiness is no substitute for success.

"The best thing is really winning the race," he said. "I need to win some more."

Then, echoing his boss, Junqueira summed up his prospects.

"We'll just see what happens," he said.