Warning: It's Robin Miller, so take it with a grain of salt.
Despite being groomed for a Champ Car ride, Buddy Rice never got the opportunity to race in that series after winning the Toyota Atlantic title.
But, next month in Mexico City, he'll finally get a shot.
SPEED has learned that the 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner has been tabbed by Gerry Forsythe to replace A.J. Allmendinger in the Champ Car season finale Nov. 12 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. (MORE)
UPDATE: Autosport is reporting that AJ Allmendinger hasn't heard from Forsythe about his status for the final Champ Car race in Mexico City.
Allmendinger told autosport.com: "I haven't spoken to Jerry since Monday, when I told him I was leaving. But he didn't mention then that I wasn't going to be at Mexico. In fact, I told him I'd love to do it for the No. 7 crew, and go out with a win and show my appreciation for all their hard work for me this year.
"However, it's still two weeks to go before Mexico, so I guess anything could happen. If Surfers was my last Champ Car race, then I'm sad. It wasn't the way I wanted to leave the series. I wanted to go out kicking ass, you know?"
Go AJ! Glad to see him get a shot. Probably legit since Robin is directly quoting everyone involved. Hope he lights up the track and gets the ride full time next year. CCWS needs its one American.
Looks like buddy might be gone for good....
Do ya think Forsythe is kicking AJ out early? Um, yeah. Can't blame AJ for taking the whoppin' cash to drive for a league where people will actually view him racing, but you also can't blame Forsythe for being just a touched yanked off about it. AJ doesn't need to come in for his last two weeks.
Forsythe handled it alot like McClaren handled the Montoya situation...