Almost as quickly as they came to blows in the pit lane after a crash at the San Jose Grand Prix last Sunday, Canadian Champ Car drivers Alex Tagliani and Paul Tracy have smoothed things over.
Tagliani said yesterday that all he had wanted from his fellow Canadian when he confronted him on Sunday was an apology and a bit of respect for his Team Australia's hard work.
But last night, everything was patched up between the two when Tracy apologized.
"It was really good to talk," Tagliani said. "Both of us were frustrated and we feel bad about what happened in the pits.
Tracy, of Toronto, who drives for Forsythe Championship Racing, caused the crash, which possibly robbed Tagliani of a top-three finish in a season that's been difficult for the native of Lachenaie, Que.
While the incident at the California track continued a history of clashes between the two, Tagliani insisted the friendship they've built over the past year ensured that they would work out their differences.
"I consider him a friend, and no matter what happens on the racetrack, you should be able to talk to each other," Tagliani said.
"What he was five days ago for me, he should be tomorrow. If you can't do that, it means you don't value the friendship that much."
The fallout from the fight isn't over yet, though. Champ Car officials will decide tomorrow on possible punishment.
While the friendship is back on track, Tagliani's crash in San Jose destroyed Team Australia's only remaining spare monocoque (tub), the middle section of the car with the cockpit. The engine, suspension and wings attach to the tub.
A lack of spare tubs already caused Tagliani to miss the Champ Car World Series race in Milwaukee, Wis., after a crash irreparably damaged his car. He almost suffered the same fate in Toronto, but his mechanics rebuilt the car from spare parts and kept him in the race.
Last month in Edmonton, Tagliani's teammate, Will Power, destroyed the team's last spare monocoque.
"The [San Jose] tub is finished and we don't have any more," Tagliani said.
"We will have to race on eggshells and still drive really hard because we are going up against guys like Paul, but also make sure we don't bring the car back in pieces. We just can't afford it."