By John Kekis, Associated Press WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Another race, another tirade directed at Milka Duno. After spinning out on his own and losing two fast laps in the first round of qualifying Saturday at Watkins Glen International, Ryan Hunter-Reay was trying to rally and make the second round when he overtook Duno as time was running out...
IndyCar driver Milka Duno, above, caught some heat from driver Ryan Hunter-Reay for not driving fast enough Saturday at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. By John Kekis, Associated Press
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Another race, another tirade directed at Milka Duno.
After spinning out on his own and losing two fast laps in the first round of qualifying Saturday at Watkins Glen International, Ryan Hunter-Reay was trying to rally and make the second round when he overtook Duno as time was running out in the 15-minute session.
Hunter-Reay, who won at Watkins Glen two years ago, missed the cut and will start 16th in the 25-car field for today's Camping World Grand Prix. Afterward, he vented his frustration at Duno, who was more than 7 seconds off the pace and hindered his chances on his final passes.
"If she's going to drive in this series, she's going to have to drive with her mirrors," Hunter-Reay said. "There are 15 turns on this course and she's the 16th."
Duno, who brings sponsorship dollars to her team at Dale Coyne Racing, was defended by her boss.
"She's been within the rule every session," Dale Coyne said. "Something happened. She's closer to the field to the pole than she's been on any road course this year. Ryan can say what he wants, but she didn't cause [his spinout]."
Duno also was mentioned at the post-qualifying press conference, and the drivers were reluctant to criticize.
"Maybe the best scenario is if we have enough cars you have to qualify for each race," said Justin Wilson, who won last year's race at WGI. "Then you get the best 25 or 26 cars starting. I don't know what the right answer is. You obviously don't want to turn people away that are keeping some of these teams afloat, but at the same time there's a balance there."
"There is a balance," defending series champion Dario Franchitti added. "You don't want to see that car and sponsor go away. Then a lot of guys are out of work. But there's a certain level of competency that's not there, unfortunately."