INDIANAPOLIS -- Five months ago he wasn't even sure he'd be racing in the United States this year. Today, Bruno Junqueira owns the pole position for the 86th Indianapolis 500.

Welcome to life with Chip Ganassi.

In one of the more unusual scenarios of recent memory, Junqueira went from an afterthought in Ganassi's game plan to the afterburners at the Speedway and a major motorsports' plum.

"I wasn't sure I'd be back here with Chip but everything worked out and I'm happy it did," said Junqueria, who finished fifth last year as a rookie but was lost in the shadow of another rookie's (Helio Castroneves) victory.

"I feel much more comfortable this year."

Whether the 25-year-old Brazilian feels more appreciated remains to be seen but he couldn't get much less respect from his car owner than he did in 2001.

A classic example is what happened at Japan last year. CART owners and drivers stay in a modern hotel right outside Turn 3 of the track, but Bruno and Nicolas Minassian were bussed an hour away each night and Ganassi gave their rooms to team managers.

As the season progressed it was obvious the awesome success of Alex Zanardi and Juan Montoya had spoiled Ganassi to the point of being unrealistic.

True, Junqueira did not equal Montoya's amazing rookie year of seven wins and a CART championship (in 1999).

But he also captured the pole in his oval-track debut at Nazareth, Pa., and won the Elkhart Lake race in addition to his fine showing at Indy, in which he was the fastest rookie qualifier despite almost no practice.

"We would have thought Bruno was the second coming seven or eight years ago with that kind of a season," acknowledged engineer Bill Pappas. "But with Alex and Juan we just got used to winning all the time."

By August, Ganassi had already signed Kenny Brack for 2002 and then went shopping for Dario Franchitti and/or Tony Kanaan. Ganassi claims he had Junqueira in his 2002 plans all along, but Bruno didn't officially learn of his fate until early January when he was summoned to film a Target commercial in Sebring, Fla.

In terms of salary, status and experience, Brack is clearly the No. 1 driver in Ganassi's CART stable, but Junqueira is having a better year to date. Last month, he won the pole and race at Japan.

"I didn't know the tracks last year and I think I tried too hard," he said. "Today, I am more like myself. I have confidence and I know I can win any race because I have one of the best teams behind me."

	Junqueira won CART's Japan GP in April and now has an Indy 500 pole on his resumé.

His Target crew carried Junqueira on their shoulders Saturday night after he accepted the pole check for $100,000 and it's apparent they've warmed up to him like they did Zanardi and Montoya.

"Those guys asked if they could stay together this year and work for Bruno because they believe in him," said Pappas. "He recognizes the guys will bust their ass for him and he's much more focused this year.

"He's relaxed and just driving the race car like we knew he could. He wants to be the fastest in every session and that's what every mechanic loves to hear."

Junqueira is not the easiest person to understand but Pappas is making progress.

"His English isn't great and it takes a while to communicate but this past week was a great experience. We spent five-straight days together talking about what he wants and just getting to know each other better.

"On Friday we simulated qualifying and he ran four laps in a row at 230 mph. We put the car away and he wound up fifth on the day and hung his head a little. I told him not to worry. He ran in the heat of the day and now let's see if anybody can stay with us.

"I was so proud of him today. He hung on and stuck it in there."

Junqueira wasn't F3000 champion and Frank Williams' test driver in Formula One because of his good looks. He's a very talented racer who has handled a very humbling situation with great poise.

He deserved the pole position, but Ganassi really didn't.

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