Winners slam obstructive backmarkers

Juan Montoya, Dario Franchitti and Jimmy Vasser had harsh words for PJ Jones, Roberto Moreno and Robby Gordon respectively at the end of the race.

Jones refused to let Montoya lap him throughout the final quarter of the race.

'I tried to pass PJ twice,' said Montoya. 'I was alongside but you can't race with PJ. He's a joke.'

'Backmarkers played a big part in the result,' added Franchitti, who had to abandon his pursuit of Montoya when Roberto Moreno unlapped himself in the closing stages and sat between the two leaders, trying in vain to pass Montoya as well.

'Moreno came in and spoilt the whole thing,' the Scot continued. 'I don't know what he was playing at.'

Jimmy Vasser was just as angry with the CART officials after being baulked by Robby Gordon. This allowed Max Papis and Helio Castro-Neves to close in and prevented Vasser from going after the leaders.

'I had a big problem with Robby,' said the angry Ganassi driver. 'I don't know what Wally (Dallenbach, CART's Chief Steward) and the other officials were looking at around here.

'They talk about all these things in the briefing. Obviously he (Dallenbach) is too weak to implement what he says.'