Penske and Rahal were the better men, they didn't qualify, they didn't race.

AJ came from the era of -earning- a ride.

When the IRL came to be, AJ was all for it, having guys like Billy Boat, etc in his cars.

Then AJ put non-American/non midget-sprint-champ car-supermodified drivers in his cars....and I lost a lot of respect for him.

Now this BS.

Can you imagine how pissed off AJ would have been 'way back when', if he qualified a car for the 500, and a week before the race, he's told he out......

I've never liked Mario, Michael, or Marco, and this just adds to that for me.

So I guess this proves there is at least 2 definitions for 'Buying a ride'. This would be bad enough if it was a teammate that had to give up the seat, but being 'parked' so a guy from a different team gets to race in a car you qualified, that's asinine.

This is plain old BS! It is a real slap in the face to those that worked so hard to make the race honestly, and I've never been a fan of buying your way into any race. Scenario: You find a sponsor for millions of dollars, and guarentee his company will be in the Super Bowl of racing. Then in the back of your mind you know a portion of his sponsorship money will give him that privilege. If you miss the show, no big deal, go get the check book! Now, you go out and find someone greedy enough to sell his reputation, and tell him you will write all the press releases to make him look benevolent and sympathic, because you know nobody in your family would do such an act. Well, maybe for his Dad or Uncle. Now, most are happy, you have your bragging rights back for the next sponsor, contract requirements meant with this years sponsor, and now you can compile the list of excuses for a poor performance in the "Big Goat Rope"

Hope he sells his ride in the pace car also..It really takes away from how special this race is,and what racing has become.

Bruno who? what kind of money did he bring to buy AJ's ride? not enough. like this stuff never has happened before.

I know this has happened in NASCAR many times and I even asked my Dad after Hunter-Reay missed the show, you don't think Andretti will buy his way in? I can't believe he really did it. It is a slap in the face to Bruno. I also lost some respect for A.J. too. The IRL needs a rule for the greatest spectacle in racing that once qualifying is over that's it, the field is set! That was great, classic bump day drama at the end and now I guess it don't mean crap if you can just buy your way back in!
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How will they announce the field? "The fastest 33 drivers in this years 500 mile race" or "The fastest 32 drivers plus one buy in for this years 500 mile race"

AJ how much for conway to drive the pace car

Mr ***** for this price I"ll let you have my seat in the pace car

Not any different than a provisional that they use in napcar only this cost a lot more money. I'am sure this happens at many local tracks on a weekly basis. Bet there is a escape clause in every owner/driver contracts.