A rough start to the 2012 campaign has gotten worse for Bryan Herta Autosport (aka Team Barracuda-BHA), as the reigning Indianapolis 500 champions have announced that they will not be involved in the Sao Paulo Indy 300 on April 29.
The team broke the news Thursday night on its Twitter account (@bha). It’s the latest setback to hit the Lotus-powered operation, which sits 24th in points with driver Alex Tagliani after a 15th-place run at St. Petersburg and DNFs in the last two races at Barber and Long Beach.
While BHA cited the need to “refocus” on defending its Indy 500 title, it also bears noting that only the top 22 squads are having their trips to Brazil paid for by INDYCAR. The Associated Press reports that both Herta and Tagliani themselves will go to Brazil in order to host guests of their main sponsor, Barracuda Networks.
As for how this impacts Lotus as a whole going into this next race, that depends on how you look at it. Sure, it might make things a little easier for them in regards to providing serviceable engines for its three remaining teams. But it’s just for one event. And considering that two of their teams have been confirmed to be looking for a way out of the group, BHA’s current dilemma may prove to be another PR hit for the British manufacturer.
