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It has been zero days with out . And whereas some followers could also be disillusioned that Saturday’s story did not finish with the now notorious Milner hen from the Rolex 24, the remainder of the sector managed just a few candy victories price noting and losses that had been actually extra simply disappointments. All of it taking place in a really fast 100 minutes of racing.
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So, with out additional adieu, the winners and losers of :
Loser: The #60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing… and properly each Acura GTPs
LAT Pictures
LAT Pictures
What you may need missed, simply seconds after the waving of the checkered flag and as groups had been placing in a cool-down lap earlier than pitting, the #60 Acura w/Curb Agajanian misplaced considered one of its wheels. The way it managed to run nearly all of the race — over 25 laps because the final (second) full course yellow — with out dropping the wheel is considerably dumbfounding. (MSR did handle to tweet that the #60 did have a “powerful pit cease” for that spherical, which could clarify the tip consequence).
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The #60 was additionally one of many two vehicles to say out on the preliminary pitstops of the primary full-course yellow. They did find yourself pitting two laps later (nonetheless underneath warning), and regardless of no different actual points, managed to complete 9, behind the #23 Valkyrie automobile. It wasn’t an incredible day for Acura as an entire. Additional salt within the wound is the truth that this was the “Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside.”
Winner: Vasser Sullivan Racing Each Vasser Sullivan Racing driver (Jack Hawksworth, Parker Thompson, Aaron Telitz and Frankie Montecalvo) on the rostrum with AO Racing’s GTD-winning crew.
Each Vasser Sullivan Racing driver (Jack Hawksworth, Parker Thompson, Aaron Telitz and Frankie Montecalvo) on the rostrum with AO Racing’s GTD-winning crew. LAT Pictures
LAT Pictures
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Redemption may be sweeter than revenge? The weekend began with the crusing a quick #12 Lexus to pole at Lengthy Seaside for the second time in a row for the GTD class. However one other near-deja vu second in Saturday’s race noticed the vehicles adopted by ‘s #57 Mercedes-AMG. For those who’ve forgotten the place this occurred earlier than, Jack Hawksworth and his group actually did not — it was the same begin to a disappointing night for Vasser Sullivan at Sebring final month, as a transfer within the final lap of the race ended with the #12 relinquishing his lead for the second spot within the class end. This weekend, the #12 completed second once more, however two spots forward of Winward. Not solely that, however the second Vasser Sullivan Racing entry for the weekend, the #89, was proper behind to present the group a 2-3 end for GTD. Cheers!
Loser: Conquest Racing The #34 Conquest Racing Ferrari, on monitor Friday in the course of the Lengthy Seaside GP weekend
The #34 Conquest Racing Ferrari, on monitor Friday in the course of the Lengthy Seaside GP weekendBrandon Badraoui
Brandon Badraoui
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The true winner of this story may be the wall round Flip 1, sadly. It was an extremely brief run for the #34 Ferrari as driver discovered himself within the runoff at Flip 1, having made contact with the wall. Whereas he tried to push on, no matter occurred within the crash did sufficient harm that the group tried fixing it, however retired the automobile at the very least 20 laps down, having solely accomplished 15 laps.
Winner: Robert Wickens’ return to a top-tier sequence with DXDT RacingThe #36 DXDT Racing Corvette pushed by Robert Wickens and Tommy Milner, sporting its busted rear finish
The #36 DXDT Racing Corvette pushed by Robert Wickens and Tommy Milner, sporting its busted rear endLAT Pictures
LAT Pictures
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It has been an extended and painful street for Robert Wickens because the 2018 Indycar at Pocono crash that modified his life, leaving him partially paralyzed from the waist-down. And whereas that story has been advised a number of hundred occasions this weekend, for good motive, the most important story of the Lengthy Seaside race surrounded the 36-year-old driver, how he pushed himself and impressed the individuals round him to assist him proceed racing. Wickens has most just lately skilled success in IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Problem sequence, however lastly made the step again as much as the elite, top-tier portion of IMSA this weekend — along with his first outing within the GTD class. All of it made potential with a hand management system developed by Bosch. And it wasn’t a race weekend with out its personal setbacks, which you’ll learn just a little extra about within the subsequent part. However Wickens is again on the prime, and DXDT Racing was one other essential half to this comeback story.
Loser: But in addition the #36 DXDT Racing Corvette
Sure, the Corvette is on right here twice, purposely. The group just isn’t an outright loser this weekend. Nevertheless it’s not an outright winner both. The #36 had an understandably tough weekend. From points in follow, to contact with a Ferrari that tousled the suspension to the BMW dance that resulted in a mechanical black flag waved that basically resulted in a last-place operating end (at the very least forward of Conquest Racing), was arduous to look at.
Winner: Wayne Taylor Racing#45 Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracan of Danny Formal and Trent Hindman on the Lengthy Seaside GP
#45 Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracan of Danny Formal and Trent Hindman on the Lengthy Seaside GPLAT Pictures
LAT Pictures
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The Cadillac squad on the GTP aspect of issues did not have a exceptional weekend in any approach. Nor did ‘s #45 GTD Lamborghini. However, none of WTR’s vehicles suffered any main position-altering harm, together with the Lamborghini, which managed to only miss operating over the #85 Porsche’s wing after its incident. An in depth name for positive, however once more, Wayne Taylor Racing vehicles throughout each lessons got here out unscathed. Everybody within the WTR garages have to be relieved.
Loser: BMW with three for 3 IMSA poles, and no winsThe #24 BMW M Group RLL of Phillipp Eng and Dries Vanthoor on monitor in the course of the Lengthy Seaside GP
The #24 BMW M Group RLL of Phillipp Eng and Dries Vanthoor on monitor in the course of the Lengthy Seaside GPLAT Pictures
LAT Pictures
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Anybody who watches endurance racing understands {that a} pole place does not actually matter within the grand scheme of an extended race. However including 35 factors to your championship factors whole is nothing to bat your lashes at both. It isn’t anticipated that the pole-sitter may also stand atop the endurance podium. . Properly, the #24 BMW M Group did at the very least earn a podium spot this week — it simply wasn’t the “prime” spot.
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