IndyCars - The off-season: Series news and comment until the March 2014 kick-off

The Sports Roundtable and Bar
85

+++

.
Thursday at Watkins Glen - Practice begins for the big SportsCar weekend…

.
As the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen gets ever closer the support series for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship had a full day of practice, today, despite a bit of rain throughout the day hampering the proceedings, somewhat. The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA gang got in two practices and their P-2 session was the one most in the dry and predictably faster.

Topping the P-2 session in Platinum class was young Roman de Angelis, driving the # 1 Kelly Moss Road and Race Porsche 911, De Angelis turned a best lap of 1:54.870s for a speed of 106.555mph. P2 in this and the first session, too, was Trenton Estep for JDX Racing in the # 3 Porsche. Trenton was .6 seconds off Roman. P3 was Masters class driver Michael Levitas, who was 4 seconds out in his # 36 Porsche for TPC Racing.

Roman de Angelis fastest guy of the day in a Porsche

Roman de Angelis

.
Unfortunately for IndyCar guy Trenton Estep, he was involved in a shunt at the end of the second practice session along with Gold Cup class competitor Sebastian Carazo in the # 27 NGT Motorsport Porsche.Both guys are okay but the JDX crew will be working all night to have the car ready for Trenton to qualify on Friday.

.
.
.
Lamborghini Super Trofeo also had two practice sessions on the day and the 1st was really a wash-out with few drivers trying to run in the rain, but the P-2 session was a good one. All three of the top performers were Pro-class drivers, with the rabbit being Corey Lewis in the # 29 Lambo for Change Racing with a time of 1:59.146 seconds for a speed of 102.731mph. Corey bested Jonathan Cecotto in the # 1 Huracan for Wayne Taylor Racing by a mere .132 seconds. P3 was Taylor Proto in the # 50 for US Racetronics. Corey’s co-driver is Madison Snow. Jonathan shares the # 1 with Trent Hindman and Taylor’s co-driver is Edoardo Piscopo.

Corey Lewis steaming at the Glen

Corey Lewis

.
Due to the weather IndyCar driver Pippa Mann was unable to put in laps in the # 47 Evo for Precision Performance Motorsports. She’ll have to rely on her previous experience in Lambo Super Trofeo

.
.
.
continued…

.
.
.
M

.

.

86

+++

.
Thursday at Watkins Glen - Practice begins for the big SportsCar weekend…(part 2)…

.
In the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series there was one practice on the day. Topping the Grand Sport class was Eric Foss in the # 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 with a time of 1:58.456s for a speed of 103.329mph, besting Scott Maxwell in the # 15 Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4 by 0.973 seconds. P3 in GS class was Andy Lally in the # 59 Ford Mustang GT4 for Roush Performance / KohR Motorsports. Eric’s co-driver is Jeff Mosing, Scott’s co-driver is Ty Majeski and Andy’s co-driver is Jack Roush Jr.

Eric Foss fast in the wet

Eric Foss

.
.
.
In the Touring Car class the bunny was Bryan Ortiz in the # 31 Rumcastle LLC Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR with a time of 2:01.170s for a speed of 101.015mph. Bryan bested Tom O’Gorman in the # 12 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for eEuroparts.com Racing by the TEENSIEST of margins - 0.005 seconds. It’s a wonder they can measure that. P3 was Kuno Wittmer in the # 74 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for Compass Racing. Bryan’s co-drivers are Luke & Tanner Rumburg, Tom’s co-driver is Kenton Koch and Kuno’s co-driver is Rodrigo Sales.

Bryan tops the TCR class in a VW Golf GTI-TCR

Bryan Ortiz

.
.
.
In Street Tuner class the TOP TIME was posted by Mat Pombo in his # 73 MINI JCW entry for Mini JCW Team with a time of 2:08.180s for a speed of 95.490mph, topping Jason Rabe in the # 21 Porsche Cayman for Bodymotion Racing by 5.4 seconds. No other ST class cars practiced. Mat shares the # 73 Mini with Mike LaMarra and Jason co-drives the # 21 Cayman with Max Faulkner.

Mat Pombo’s John Cooper Works Mini.

Mat Pombo

.
.
.
Only 24 of the 39 entered cars turned laps in the rainy session and IndyCar guy Michael Johnson for JDC-Miller Motorsports wasn’t one of them.

.
.
.

Friday will be a VERY busy day, with more practice for the CTSC, practice for the WeatherTech series, qualifying for Porsche GT3 Cup, Lambo Super Trofeo and CTSC and racing for Porsche GT3 Cup and Lambo Super Trofeo.

.
.
.
M

87

+++

.
Katie Hargitt gets you “Up to Speed” on the weekend race, the Iowa Corn 300…

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
M

88

+++

.
It’s OUT!..Mazda Road to Indy TV goes to Road America…

.
Hosts Tony Laporta and Rob Howden report from the big weekend at Elkhart Lake, where all three of the series that make up the MRTI were present, with double-headers for each.

Tony starts out making a fool of himself in a soccer goal challenge with Brit Harrison Scott for RP Motorsport Racing in Pro Mazda. For a Brit, Harrison was not much better. Then, Tony sits down for a quick conversation with USF2000 Texan driver Kory Enders from DEForce Racing.

Next, Tony and Rob recap the racing from Road America, ending in the victory for Victor Franzoni in Indy Lights, which turns into a quick tribute to the late Jeff Green - Victor’s 2017 Pro Mazda teammate and mentor.

In an episode of “False Grid, True Talk” Tony speaks with a lonesome Santi Urrutia, a confused Andres Gutierrez, a too-cool Nikita Lastochkin, a hungry Rob Megennis and two of the Pabst Racing speed-boys - Calvin Ming and Lucas Kohl.

Finally, Rob gives us his “Insider” stuff on the possibilities for 2019, which looks like a BIG year in the MRTI, with a lot of new talent and possibly a 30-car field in USF2000.

.
.

.
.
.
M

89

+++

.
Conor Daly will drive at Toronto, this weekend…

.
Daly is the most popular driver in IndyCars WITHOUT a full-time ride and this weekend he gets to jump into the # 88 car for Harding Racing, replacing full-time driver Gabby Chaves for the event.

Conor Daly

.
Brian Barnhart, President of Harding Racing, has made it clear that Daly is NOT replacing Gabby in the car for the rest of the season and that Gabby still has his contract that will keep him in the car through 2019, but that Harding wants to test a few other drivers for a possible 2nd car for the 2019 season.

Daly, a former Pro Mazda Champion, has a best IndyCar finish of P2 at Detroit in 2016, driving for Dale Coyne at the time. His last IndyCar start was the Indy 500, driving the US Airforce Honda for Thom Burns / Dale Coyne Racing, finishing 21st. Gabby, a former Indy Lights Chasmpion, on the other hand, has a best finish of P5 at Texas last season driving the Harding car.

Gabby Chaves

.
While this may be a legitimate audition for the 2nd seat at Harding in 2019, it is also possible that the engineers at Harding want a fresh driver for Toronto, to see if the lackluster performance of the car this season is their fault, or Gabby’s fault or a combination of both.

.
.
.
In any case, it’s great to see Daly back in an IndyCar.

.
.
.
M

90

+++

.
We have to play a bit of catch up…

.
More than a week ago we started to follow the great IMSA event at Watkins Glen, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen, but then got pulled off the story by circumstances beyond our control, so we’d like to report the good results of the IndyCar folks who were competing, starting with the main event of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Six Hours of the Glen:

.
.

In the P class IndyCar driver Juan Pablo Montoya and co-driver Dane Cameron were able to bring the # 6 Acura ARX-05 DPi for Acura Team Penske to P3 on the podium. That allowed Juan Pablo to leave the Glen tied for 3rd in the series points with Dane.

Juan Pablo Montoya

.
.
.
In the GTLM class no IndyCar guy made the podium, but with his P5 finish in the # 67 Ford GT for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe falls to 2nd in the points along with co-driver Richard Westbrook, and only 1 point out of 1st place.

Ryan Briscoe

.
.
.
In the GTD class IndyCar driver Katherine Legge and co-driver Alvaro Parente were able to finish P2 in the race in the # 86 Acura NSX GT3 for Meyer Shank Racing, and that kept Kat 2nd in the points, only 1 point out of 1st place.

Katherine Legge

.
.
.
In the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race on the same weekend the only IndyCar guy to make a podium and one of only two in the series was paraplegic Michael Johnson who, along with co-driver Stephen Simpson, took the TCR class # 54 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for JDC -Miller Motorsports to P3. Michael missed a lot of racing recovering from a broken leg early in the season, so he is not in contention in the title fight, but it’s great to see him on a podium, nevertheless.

Michael Johnson

.
.
.
In Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA the IndyCar guy is Trenton Estep, driving the # 3 Porsche 991 cup car for JDX Racing. Trenton had a great weekend with a P2 in Race 1 to Roman de Angelis’ WIN, and a P1 in Race 2, beating Roman. That leaves Trenton STILL in the series points lead, 256 to 243 over Roman.

Trenton Estep

.
.
.
In Lamborghini Super Trofeo the only IndyCar driver was Pippa Mann driving the # 47 Huracan EVO for Precision Performance Motorsports in the Pro/Am class with Patrick Liddy co-driving. In both Race 1 and Race 2 Pippa and Patrick got a P2 in class. Pippa hasn’t been racing Lambo Super Trofeo this year until this event so she is not a title contender but the results do keep Patrick 2nd in the points.

Pippa Mann

.
.
.
.
continued…
.
.
.
.
M

91

+++

.
We have to play a bit of catch up…(part 2)…

.
Following the big weekend at Watkins Glen the IMSA gang then moved on to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park for another big weekend, and here were the resuts for the IndyCar folks there, starting with the WeatherTech gang:

.
.
In the P class no IndyCar guy made a podium. The best finisher for IndyCar was Helio Castroneves in P5 and Juan Pablo Montoya could do no better than P10. That dropped him to 5th in the series points, but in the GTLM class the news was better, as IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe WON the event with co-driver Richard Westbrook in the # 67 Ford GT for Ford Chip Ganassi. That puts Ryan and Richard back into the series points lead.

Ryan Briscoe

.
.
.
In the GTD class no IndyCar driver made the podium, with Katherine Legge the best finisher in P5, along with co-driver Alvarao Parente. Unfortunately, her championship rivals, Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers for Paul Miller Racing posted a P4 so they put a little daylight between them and Kat. She is still 2nd in the points but now 3 points out.

Katherine Legge

.
.
.
In the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge IndyCar driver and paraplegic Michael Johnson did even better than at Watkins Glen and pulled down a P2 in the TCR class, driving the # 54 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for JDC-Miller Motorsports with co-driver Stephen Simpson. Whoo-Hoo!

Michael Johnson

.
.
.
The best showing for the IndyCar gang was easily in the IMSA Prototype Challenge series where IndyCar guys were in all three spots on the podium in the LMP3 class and also WON the MPC class.

In the LMP3 class the WINNERS were USF2000 alum Austin McCusker and Pro Mazda alum TJ Fischer in the # 47 Norma M30 for Forty 7 Motorsports. P2 at the end was Pro Mazda driver Kris Wright and co-driver Yann Clairay in the # 30 Ligier JS P3 for Extreme Speed Motorsports while P3 went to Pro Mazda alum Max Hanratty and Indy Lights alum Garett Grist in the # 3 Ligier JS P3 for Extreme Speed. The results in points are that Kris Wright leads the points with 127, Austin McCusker is 2nd in the points with 114 and Max Hanratty is 3rd, with 109 - an IndyCar shut-out of the top three spots!

P1 Austin McCusker (left) and TJ Fischer

.
P2 Kris Wright (left) and P3 Max Hanratty & Garett Grist (right)

.
.
.
In the MPC class the WINNERS were Indy Lights alum James French and Howard Jacobs in the # 77 Elan DP02 for Performance Tech Motorsports. James, who normally races in the P class of the WeatherTech series, is not a title contender in the MPC class of the IPC.

James French

.
.
.
The next outings for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship gang will be at the iconic Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, where only the GTLM and GTD classes will race, with support from the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, July 20-21.

.
.
.
M

92

+++

.
Katie Hargitt gets you “Up to Speed” on Iowa and Toronto…

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
M

93

+++

.
Great news for Katherine Legge - she’s in it to the end!..

.
IndyCar driver Katherine Legge started the 2018 season of GTD-class racing in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship series knowing that the # 86 Acura NSX GT3 she would be driving for Meyer Shank Racing only had the budget to run the 4 Tequila Patron North America Endurance Cup races - Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta.

But Katherine and her co-drivers - either Mario Farnbacher or Alvarao Parente - kept doing great, and with each good performance the team found a way to get the car just one more regular series race, then one more, then one more…By the time the car got to Detroit they were winning races, too. Katherine is currently 2nd in the GTD-class points, 3 points out from Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow, who drive for Paul Miller Racing.

.
Katherine Legge

.
.
.
The news came out today - MSR’s sponsors Sirius/XM have decided to sponsor the car for all 5 remaining series races, along with the team’s full-time car, the # 93. This gives Kat the chance to WIN the title and the team can fully concentrate on that mission, knowing they will be there to the end.

.
The # 86 Acura at Mosport, last week

.
.
.
Good Luck, Katherine!

.
.
.
.M

94

+++

.
In case you haven’t heard, IndyCar is returning to Laguna Seca!

.
This week, IndyCar made a deal with SCRAMP - the folks who supervise Laguna Seca - to return IndyCars to the West Coast’s most iconic and historic currently-operating track, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

For the next three years, starting in 2019, Laguna Seca will be the IndyCar season finale, replacing Sonoma Raceway in that role. Sonoma has been asked to stay on the schedule somewhere, but they are contemplating leaving, believe that two West Coast races are not in their best interest. Time will tell.

.
.
Here is the announcement:

.
.
.
And here, Racer’s Marshall Pruett speaks to IndyCar CEO Mark Miles about this return to one of the Champ Car / CART fan’s favorite venues:

.

.
.
.
continued…
.
.
.
.
M

95

+++

.
In case you haven’t heard, IndyCar is returning to Laguna Seca!..(part 2)…

.
Here, Racer’s Robin Miller speaks with IndyCar drivers Tony Kanaan, Sebastien Bourdais and Ryan Hunter-Reay - all veterans who have raced at Laguna Seca - about the track and how it compares to Sonoma:

.

.
.
.
.
And here, Marshall Pruett speaks to Bobby Rahal - team owner and IndyCar legend - about the track on which he has had much success:

.

.
.
.
We have been to Laguna many times in the Cart / Champ Car heyday. It was always a wonderful event. From the big hill in the middle of the track a fan could see about 75% of the racing, To see the famous “Corkscrew” one would have to go over near it, but even that was accessible.

.
.
.
.
M

96

+++

.
This weekend the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series will be heading to Lime Rock Park…

.
…for the Northeast Grand Prix, and they will be bringing the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series with them, for a big GT-only racing weekend. No prototypes, this will just be the WeatherTech GTLM class and the GTD class and the entire CTSC.

Without the prototypes, there will be far fewer IndyCar drivers at the event, but present some will be. Let’s see who they are, starting with the GTLM class:
.

Pro Mazda alum Connor de Phillippe will be driving the # 25 BMW M8 GTE for BMW RLL with co-driver Alexander Sims.

Connor de Phillippe

.
.
.
IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe will co-drive the # 67 Ford GT with Richard Westbrook for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing. Ryan and Richard regained the GTLM-class points lead with a WIN at the last race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. Ryan only lives about an hour away from the historic 1-mile road course, so this is home.

Ryan Briscoe

.
.
.
In the GTD class, IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth will share the # 15 Lexus RCF GT3 with Mario Farnbacher for Paul Gentilozzi’s 3GT Racing.

Jack Hawksworth

.
.
.
Also in GTD, IndyCar driver Katherine Legge and co-driver Alvaro Parente will campaign the # 86 Acura NSX GT3 for Meyer Shank Racing. Katherine is only 3 points out of 1st place in the championship chase.

Katherine Legge

.
.
.
In the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge we will have 2 guys:

.
In the Grand Sport class USF2000 alum and Porsche Cup Champion Jesse Lazare will be in the # 69 McLaren GT4 with Corey Fergus for Motorsports in Action.

Jesse Lazare

.
.
.
In the Touring Car class Pro Mazda alum and paraplegic Michael Johnson will drive the # 54 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for JDC-Miller Motorsports, utilizing hand controls. MJ’s co-driver is Stephen Simpson, formerly a South African, but - like Ryan Briscoe - a recently-minted US citizen. Mike and Stephen just collected a P3 at Watkins Glen and a P2 at the last race at CTMP, so they’re hot.

Michael Johnson

.
.
.
Racing is not allowed at Lime Rock Park on a Sunday, so this one will be quick, with practice and some qualifying on Friday and more qualifying and the two races on Saturday…Stay tuned!

.
.
.
.
M

97

+++

.
Friday at Lime Rock Park - Practice and qualifying for the racing on Saturday…

.
The two GT classes of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series held three practice session on the day in good weather. We have the TOP THREE results of those practices, with the sessions COMBINED at the end of the day:

.
In the GTLM class the TOP TIME was posted by Patrick Pilet in the # 911 Porsche for Porsche GT Team. Patrick posted a 00:50.414 second time in the P-3 session for a speed of 105.256mph. Patrick bested Dirk Mueller’s best time, also from P-3, in the # 66 Ford GT for Ford Chip Ganassi by 0.405 seconds. Third fastest on the day was Jesse Krohn in the # 24 BMW M8 GTE for BMW Team RLL. Jesse’s time was also taken in P-3, so everyone was definitely learning as the day went by. Pilet’s co-driver is Nick Tandy, Mueller’s co-driver is Joey Hand and Krohn’s co-driver is Jon Edwards.

.
TOP TIME for the day for the # 911 Porsche 911 RSR

.
.
.
In the GTD class the rabbit on the day was Patrick Long in yet another Porsche, the # 58 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R, that Patrick shares with Christina Nielsen. Long’s top time was 00:51.754s for a speed of 102.530mph. Patrick bested Lawson Aschenbach in the # 93 Acura NSX GT3 for Meyer Shank Racing by 0.297 seconds. P3 for the day was IndyCar driver Katherine Legge in the other Acura NSX GT3 for MSR, the # 86. All these top times were from the P-3 session. Lawson shares the Acura with Justin Marks and Kat shares her Acura with Alvaro Parente.

.
Wright Motorsports tops the day in GTD.

…
.
.
continued…

.
.
.
.
M

98

+++

.
Friday at Lime Rock Park - Practice and qualifying for the racing on Saturday…(part 2)…

.
The Continental Tire SportCar Challenge series also had three practice sessions on the day but they also qualified for their Saturday race. Here are those TOP THREE results in class:

.
In the GS class the best practice time of the day was posted by Owen Trinkler in the P-2 session, driving the # 46 Mercedes AMG for Team TGM that he shares with Hugh Plumb. But when it came time to qualify it was Spencer Pumpelly who took pole in the # 28 Porsche Cayman GT4 MR for RS1. Spencer’s time was 00:55.025s for a speed of 96.697mph. P2 on the grid will be the # 46 Mercedes thanks to Trinkler, who missed by 0.142 seconds. P3 at the start will be the # 92 Quest/Ramsey Racing Mercedes AMG thanks to the efforts of Alexandre Premat. Spencer shares the Cayman with Dillon Machavern, while Alexandre shares his AMG with Mark Ramsey.

.
Pole-man in Grand Sport class Spencer Pumpelly

.
.
.
In the TCR class the fastest practice time was put in by Tom O’Gorman in the # 12 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for eEuroparts.com Racing in the P-3 session and when it came time to qualify Tom backed that up by taking pole with a time of 00:55.747s for a speed of 95.445mph. P2 on the grid will be the # 77 Compass Racing Audi RS3 LMS TCR, thanks to Britt Casey Jr. P3 will be the # 61 Audi RS3 LMS TCR for Roadshagger Racing, with Jonathan Morley being the qualifier. Kenton Koch is the other guy in the pole-sitting # 12, while Tom Long is the co-driver of the # 77 and Gavin Ernstone is sharing the # 61 with Jonathan.

.
Tom O’Gorman on the pole in Touring Car class.

.
.
.
In the ST class it was Devin Jones in the # 81 BMW 328i for BimmerWorld Racing who was fastest in practice in the P-1 session, and his co-driver, Nick Galante, was able to translate that into speed for the pole, with a time of 00:59.543s for a speed of 89.360mph. P2 on the grid will be the # 52 MINI JCW Team Mini JCW, thanks to Colin Mullan and P3 will be the # 37 MINI JCW Team Mini JCW, due to the qualifying of Nate Norenberg. Colin shares the # 52 with Mark Pombo and Nate shares the # 37 with Derek Jones.

.
Nick Galante on the pole in Street Tuner

.
.
.
.
The WeatherTech gang will qualify in the morning and then both series will race in the afternoon.

.
.
.
.M

99

+++

.
Saturday at Lime Rock Park - The WeatherTech gang qualify…

.
Following a morning warm-up by all the WeatherTech series cars, the first group out to qualify for the Northeast Grand Prix were the GTD class cars, followed later by the GTLM class cars. Here are the TOP THREE on the grid for each:

.
On pole for GTD class will be # 58 Wright Motorsports Porsche GT3R, thanks to Patrick Long, who was also the TOP TIME in practice on Friday. Long’s time of 00:51.491 seconds for a speed of 103.054mph bested the previous track record set by points-leader Madison Snow last year in the # 48 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 by a healthy 1.017 seconds. Patrick’s co-drover will be Christina Nielsen. P2 on the grid will be Daniel Baumann in the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for 3GT Racing, co-driven by Kyle Marcelli. Daniel missed pole by only 0.137 seconds. P3 starter will be IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth in the sister Lexus, the # 15 RCF GT3. Co-driver in that car will be Mario Farnbacher.

.
Pole man in GTD Patrick Long for Wright Motorsports

.
.
.
In the GTLM class Antonio Garcia pulverized the old track record and posted the first-ever sub-50-second time at the historic Connecticut track in the # 3 Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R. His pole-winning lap of 00:49.754 seconds for a speed of 106.652 mph shattered the previous track record set one year ago by the Porsche 911 RSR of Gimmi Bruni (00:50.404 seconds, 105.3 mph). Antonio shares the 'Vette with Jan Magnussen. P2 on the grid will be the # 912 Porsche 911 RSR of Laurens Vanthoor, who missed the top spot by 0.166 seconds, so he too was steaming. The Porsche GT Team car is co-driven by Kiwi Earl Bamber. P3 starter will be Dirk Mueller in the # 66 Ford GT he and Joey Hand driver for Ford Chip Ganassi.

.
Antonio Garcia - first pole of the year for him is a great one.

.
.
.
Next up, the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series race!. The top grid spots for this are in post # 75

.
.
.
M

100

+++

.
Saturday at Lime Rock Park - The CTSC race, and we make history…

.
The Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race will be remembered for great racing in all three classes but will also go down in history for both the Grand Sport class and the Touring Car class victories

.
First, in the Grand Sport class the WINNERS were Hugh Plumb and Owen Trinkler, driving the # 46 Team TGM Mercedes-AMG GT4, for the first-ever victory for Team TGM, as well as the historic first victory for the Mercedes AMG GT4 in North American SportsCar competition. It was a faster pit stop that got Plumb out in the lead that won the day for the car. Making the Lime Rock win even better for Mercedes AMG was the P2 finish for the # 57 Winward Racing / HTP Motorsport AMG of Bryce Ward and Indy Dontje, besting pole-sitters and early race leaders Spencer Pumpelly and Dillon Machavern in the RennSport One # 28 Porsche Cayman.

.
Left to right, TGM team owner Ted Giovanis, Hugh Plumb and Owen Trinkler

.
.
.
In the Street Tuner class the WINNERS were the # 73 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW of Mat Pombo and Mike LaMarra ahead of the pole-sitting # 81 BimmerWorld Racing BMW 328i of Nick Galante and Devin Jones in second place. The # 73 had to come through from a P5 start to take the win. The # 52 Mini JCW came home P3 for Mark Pombo and Colin Mullan from their P2 start.

.
John Cooper Works Minis come in P1 and P3 at Lime Rock

.
.
.
continued…

.
.
.
.
M

101

+++

.
Saturday at Lime Rock Park - The CTSC race, and we make history…(part 2)…

.
It was in the Touring Car class that racing history was made at Lime Rock Park today as paraplegic and Pro Mazda alum Micheal Johnson and co-driver Stephen Simpson finally broke through for the WIN!. This is Johnson’s first win as a professional driver, since breaking his back at the age of 12. It is the first WIN of a paraplegic in North American Motorsports and possibly anywhere, anytime in racing history.

.
Michael Johnson and Stephen Simpson with their Audi RS3 LMS TCR # 54 for JDC-Miller Mortorsports at Lime Rock today:

.
.
Johnson started the race from the P4 position and worked his way up to P3 before handing the car off to Simpson who then took it first to P2 and then to P1 in a dramatic final lap lunge on Kenton Koch driving the eEuroparts.com Racing # 12 Audi.The race was decided by photo finish - it was that close.

Johnson and Simpson collected a P3 at Watkins Glen last month and followed that up with a P2 at Continental Tire Motorsports Park, this month. This WIN was the next thing due for the pair.

.
.
Here is Michael Johnson, following this win:

.

.
.
.
The next outings for the CTSC will be at Road America August 3-5, along with the WeatherTech series, Porsche GT3 Cup and Lambo Super Trofeo. Next, the WeratherTech gang race! The top grid spots for that are in post # 76…

.
.
.
.
M

102

+++

.
Saturday at Lime Rock Park - The WeatherTech gang race!

.
It was two strong series teams that WON today in what some are calling a bit of an upset, but they are both strong at the moment and in the thick of the points battles.

For the GTLM class the weekend has been dominated by the # 3 Corvette C.7R which has been fast in practice and took pole, then went on to control 150 of the race’s 178 laps. But as Jan Magnussen in the 'Vette went to pass a GTD-class car he rolled wide, allowing the # 66 Ford GT driven Dirk Mueller to sneak past and into the lead. The Ford would never again lose it and took the WIN for Dirk and co-driver Joey Hand. The # 3 Corvette co-driven by pole-sitter Antonio Garcia had to settle for P2. P3 at the end was the # 912 Porsche RSR driven by Laurens Vanthoor at the start and Earl Bamber at the close. This is the 3rd Ford GT WIN in a row, with the # 66 also winning at Watkins Glen and the # 67 winning at Continental Tire Motorsports Park.

.
Ford Chip Ganassi steals one from the Corvette boys

.
.
.
In the GTD class the home-town boys, Paul Miller Racing, took the WIN with Madison Snow crossing the line first in the # 48 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 from a P4 start provided by co-driver Bryan Sellers. It was the # 58 Porsche for Wright Motorsports that had fairly dominated the proceedings on Friday but ended up P8 today. 5 different makes led the race at one point or another. Grabbing their second consecutive podium finish were Andy Lally and John Potter in the # 44 Magnus Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 which lead many laps. P3 at the finish were Cooper MacNeil and Gunnar Jeannette in the # 63 Ferrari 488 GT3 for Scuderia Corsa.

This WIN solidifies the points lead to 10 points for Snow and Sellers over IndyCar driver Katherine Legge, who finished P4 with co-driver Alvaro Parente in the # 86 Acura NSX GT3 for Meyer Shank Racing.

.
Paul Miller Racing is based two hours from Lime Rock Park

.
.
.
The next race for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will be at Road America for the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase, where the prototypes will rejoin the GT cars for a full slate. They will be supported by the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA and Lamborghini Super Trofeo. It all happens August 3-5.

.
.
.
.
M

103

+++

.
Katie Hargitt gets you “Up to Speed” on IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe…

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
It’s a great time to catch up with “Hinch” because…

.
.
.
.
continued…

.
.
.
.M

104

+++

.
Announced today…“Hinch” gets HITCHED!!..

.
IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe and his GF, Canadian actress Becky Dalton, have announced they are engaged!

.

.
.
.
The two were high school last-minute prom sweethearts in 2004 but lost touch with each other shortly after graduating, each going on their separate career paths. When Hinchcliffe had his devastating accident at Indianapolis in 2015 Dalton got in touch with him to see how he was doing and then they started dating in 2016 and have been inseparable since. It helps a LOT that they both have the perverse sense of humor that has made Hinchcliffe an IndyCar fan favorite.

.
.
.
.
Congrats, kids!! It couldn’t happen to two nicer people.

.
.
.
.
M