Wayne Taylor has lashed out at Acura Team Penske driver Juan Pablo Montoya, accusing the Colombian of deliberately brakechecking Ryan Briscoe at pit entry in the final hour of the TireRack.com Grand Prix.
Montoya and Briscoe came into the pitlane together when Montoya suddenly slowed before pit entry. The unsighted Briscoe proceeded to hit the back of Montoya’s #6 Acura ARX-05, damaging both cars.
Briscoe was subsequently handed a penalty for the incident, but team owner Wayne Taylor laid the blame for the incident with Montoya.
“I got a notification from a journalist in Europe, ‘Why the hell did JPM brake check him?’” Taylor told NBC Sports. “He knows he brake checked him. But no, the starter said it’s before the line.
It’s disgraceful for a professional to do it. It would have put us in the lead of the championship.
It has screwed our race. But it’s pathetic.”
Briscoe and Renger van der Zande went on to finish the six-hour enduro at Road Atlanta in fourth place, while Montoya was taken out in the closing stages after a crash involving the Scuderia Corsa Ferrari.
Briscoe himself expressed disappointment at the incident, by was able to see the positives after the finish.
“Awesome race,” Briscoe said. “I had a lot of fun out there. It was a really good car.
Just a really disappointing finish getting the penalty at the end for contact in pit lane with Montoya. It’s been a big discussion.
He said he had a problem in his car, and he hit the brakes inside pit lane. We got a penalty for it. It’s a real shame because it ruined our chances for a podium or the win.
Disappointing finish, but I’m really proud of the guys.
It was hot and grueling. Renger did a great job. I’m really happy with the performance of the team.”
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