The style of defeat within the Rolex 24 is turning into too acquainted for Jack Aitken.
Within the sixty fourth version of IMSA’s twice-around-the-clock crown jewel at Daytona, the 30-year-old driver spent the ultimate hour making an attempt to run down Porsche Penske Motorsport’s Felipe Nasr for the general win. Regardless of his greatest efforts, which included a determined inside transfer that put his No. 31 Whelen Cadillac on the frontstretch apron with 21 minutes to go, he was left ending 1.569 seconds behind within the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac.
“I had a few moments the place I caught my nostril in there but it surely was all the time from a bit additional again and a little bit of simply making an attempt to make one thing occur,” Aitken stated. “I by no means acquired an excellent nice run on him into Flip 1; it was all the time creeping as much as his nook.
“I used to be looking for a gap right here or there and it was a positive line between opening it, making a niche open up and simply inflicting a little bit of an accident. I attempted as greatest I may to get alongside however could not get degree, could not make the transfer stick. I attempted however could not do it.”
The rollercoaster nature of issues to hit the crew began earlier than the race started.
On Thursday, Aitken put the Cadillac V-Sequence.R on pole in qualifying, but it surely was stripped after a technical infraction after officers discovered the rear skid block had been floor down an excessive amount of.
#31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Sequence.R: Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti, Connor Zilisch
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Lumen through Getty Pictures
A drive to the entrance from the again of the GTP beginning grid was in play on tempo till co-driver Connor Zilisch, making his class debut, obtained a stop-and-hold 60-second penalty for operating the pink mild at pit exit.
And time to battle again turned more durable courtesy of an in a single day fog that supplied an occasion report warning of six hours, 33 minutes and 53 seconds. Nonetheless, the mix of Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti and Zilisch continued to press on.
“We had a extremely powerful 24 hours,” Aitken stated. “I might say it was not easy in any respect and fairly a couple of setbacks. The fellows throughout from the crew within the pit field to my teammates right here did a unbelievable job to get us again right into a race profitable place on the finish of the race.
#31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Sequence.R: Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti, Connor Zilisch
Photograph by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen through Getty Pictures
“Having stated that, the Porsches had been very robust all race. It was spectacular. We got here as much as them and tried to problem as greatest as we may. I acquired shut a couple of instances however simply did not fairly have sufficient to get the transfer accomplished. I believe each Felipe and I had been battling tires and the warmth.
“It was a little bit of forwards and backwards all the best way, however simply sadly fell a bit quick which is basically, actually heartbreaking. However we put an important run collectively and I am happy with that.”
#31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Sequence.R: Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, Frederik Vesti, Connor Zilisch
Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Pictures
Aitken’s physique language throughout the post-race press convention displayed the combination of feelings. Even with the ache of the result, although, there was little doubt about maximizing the hand they had been dealt.
“I felt like I gave it all the things, similar to just about any time we’re getting in these vehicles,” Aitken stated. “I believe it is simply human.”
The extra sting comes additionally from ending runner-up within the endurance basic once more, along with his earlier being in 2024. Whereas each defeats got here by the hands of acquainted foes in Nasr, Penske and Porsche, this one was totally different as Aitken was the nearer, versus two years in the past when he was left helplessly watching from the pits when then-teammate Tom Blomqvist got here up quick.
“That is the second time I have been second at this race,” Aitken stated. “All of us would have been over the moon to beat such a tricky race and formidable opponents, so it is only a bit bitter for the time being.
“As a crew we did all the things that we may have. I am probably not trying again at something with remorse.”
Aitken did have one thought in reflection that raised a second of laughter, but it surely was admittedly temporary.
“After I simply acquired out of the automotive I used to be considering that perhaps I ought to have simply hit him, however that clearly handed and pale,” he stated.
“It was a great truthful race. Yeah, it is simply bitter proper now as a result of it is recent however I believe we might be actually proud, and I am proud as effectively.”
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