It has been zero days with out an incident between a Corvette pushed by Tommy Milner and a BMW. And whereas some followers could also be disillusioned that Saturday’s story did not finish with the now notorious Milner chook from the Rolex 24, the remainder of the sector managed a number of candy victories value noting and losses that have been really extra simply disappointments. All of it taking place in a really fast 100 minutes of racing.
So, with out additional adieu, the winners and losers of IMSA on the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside:
Loser: The #60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing… and properly each Acura GTPs
Picture by: LAT Photographs
What you may need missed, simply seconds after the waving of the checkered flag and as groups have been placing in a cool-down lap earlier than pitting, the #60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian misplaced considered one of its wheels. The way it managed to run the vast majority of the race — over 25 laps because the final (second) full course yellow — with out shedding the wheel is considerably dumbfounding. (MSR did handle to tweet that the #60 did have a “robust pit cease” for that spherical, which could clarify the tip outcome).
The #60 was additionally one of many two automobiles 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 Aston Martin THOR Valkyrie automotive. 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.
Picture by: LAT Photographs
Redemption could be sweeter than revenge? The weekend began with the Parker Thompson 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 Vasser Sullivan Racing automobiles adopted by Winward Racing’s #57 Mercedes-AMG. Should you’ve forgotten the place this occurred earlier than, Jack Hawksworth and his staff definitely 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 provide the staff a 2-3 end for GTD. Cheers!
Loser: Conquest Racing
The #34 Conquest Racing Ferrari, on observe Friday throughout the Lengthy Seaside GP weekend
Picture by: Brandon Badraoui
The true winner of this story could be the wall round Flip 1, sadly. It was an extremely quick run for the #34 Conquest Racing Ferrari as driver Manny Franco 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 staff tried fixing it, however retired the automotive not less than 20 laps down, having solely accomplished 15 laps.
Winner: Robert Wickens’ return to a top-tier collection with DXDT Racing
The #36 DXDT Racing Corvette pushed by Robert Wickens and Tommy Milner, sporting its busted rear finish
Picture by: LAT Photographs
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 instances this weekend, for good purpose, the largest 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 lately skilled success in IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Problem collection, however lastly made the step again as much as the elite, top-tier portion of IMSA this weekend — together with his first outing within the GTD class. All of it made attainable with a hand management gadget developed by Bosch. And it wasn’t a race weekend with out its personal setbacks, which you’ll be able to learn a little bit extra about within the subsequent part. However Wickens is again on the high, and DXDT Racing was one other essential half to this comeback story.
Loser: But additionally the #36 DXDT Racing Corvette
Sure, the DXDT Racing Corvette is on right here twice, purposely. The staff just isn’t an outright loser this weekend. However 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 primarily resulted in a last-place operating end (not less than forward of Conquest Racing), was laborious to observe.
Winner: Wayne Taylor Racing
#45 Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracan of Danny Formal and Trent Hindman on the Lengthy Seaside GP
Picture by: LAT Photographs
The Cadillac squad on the GTP aspect of issues did not have a exceptional weekend in any approach. Nor did Wayne Taylor Racing’s #45 GTD Lamborghini. However, none of WTR’s automobiles suffered any main position-altering harm, together with the Lamborghini, which managed to only miss operating over the #85 JDC Miller Motorsports Porsche’s wing after its incident. An in depth name for positive, however once more, Wayne Taylor Racing automobiles throughout each courses got here out unscathed. Everybody within the WTR garages should be relieved.
Loser: BMW with three for 3 IMSA poles, and no wins
The #24 BMW M Workforce RLL of Phillipp Eng and Dries Vanthoor on observe throughout the Lengthy Seaside GP
Picture by: LAT Photographs
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. It is definitely not been anticipated for BMW this season. Nicely, the #24 BMW M Workforce RLL did not less than earn a podium spot this week — it simply wasn’t the “high” spot.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Lalita Chemello
IMSA
Robert Wickens
Conquest Racing
Wayne Taylor Racing
Meyer Shank Racing
DXDT Racing
Vasser Sullivan Racing
RLL Racing
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