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

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He’s back in for 2021…Alexander Rossi will do the Baja 1000 for Honda…

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Announced today, the Andretti Autosport IndyCar driver will return to Mexico to do the 2021 Baja 1000 - his third Baja - driving for the Honda Off-Road Racing Team in a Class 7 Honda Ridgeline, sharing driver duties with Jeff Proctor and Pat Dailey. Rossi’s navigator will be Evan Weller, who was with Alexander in his two previous races in 2018 and 2019. Those resulted in a P2 and a DNF.

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The Honda Ridgeline…
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…and Alexander Rossi
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Said Alexander, “I’m so excited to be heading back down to Baja for my third 1,000 with tyhe Honda Off-Road Racing Team. The tradition and heritage of this race is something very unique and I missed so much not being able to take part last year. We have had some incredible pace there in the past, but as of now we haven’t been able to tame the desert. To be able to represent Honda and HPD at one of the world’s most iconic races is a huge honor and I cherish the opportunity to drive this amazing Ridgeline. We are making sure that we go into this particular with every ounce of preparation humanly possible and I know that with this team we have a great opportunity to bring home a win.”

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Class 7 is for unlimited 6-cylinder production-appearing trucks and SUVs. The SCORE Baja 1000 for 2021 will be during the IndyCar off-season, November 15-20.

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IMSA is returning to Watkins Glen, this weekend…

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It seems like we were just there, last weekend. Why, indeed we were, as they did the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen - the 3rd of 4 Michelin Pilot Challenge endurances races in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. The next scheduled race on the IMSA calendar was this coming weekend, with a trip to Canadian Tire and Motorsport Park - aka Mosport - but COVID-19 travel restrictions in Canada are preventing that race, so the series stayed in Watkins Glen and will now do the sprint race there, instead, with support from the Michelin Pilot Challenge series and the IMSA Prototype Challenge series - and all in 2 days!

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With the IndyCar series scheduled to race at Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course this weekend, all the current series drivers will be there, but that still leaves a number of recent IndyCar and Road to Indy pilots for the IMSA races at the Glen. Let’s see who they are:

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DPi class - Former Indy Lights champ Tristan Vautier will drive the # 5 Cadillac DPi V.R for JDC-Miller Motorsports with co-driver Loic Duval. These guys WON the 12 Hours at Sebring, this year, with help then from Sebastien Bourdais, who will not be at the Glen.

Tristan Vautier
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Former Indy Pro 2000 driver Pipo Derani is a regular in the # 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi V.R for Action Express. His co-driver in the car is Felipe Nasr. These guys are 3rd in the points at the moment.

Pipo Derani
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LMP3 class - The # 36 Ligier JS P320 for Andretti Autosport will have Indy Lights champ and IndyCar driver Oliver Askew and Indy Lights driver and Pirelli GT4 champ Jarett Andretti.

Oliver Askew (left) and Jarett Andretti
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Road to Indy ace Rasmus Lindh will drive the # 38 Ligier JS P320 for Performance Tech Motorsports with co-driver Dan Goldburg. These guys are tentative, as Perf Tech is still looking for an engine for the car. The Nissan engine in it was damaged in a shunt at the Glen, last weekend.

Rasmus Lindh
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GTD class - Road to Indy ace and IndyCar driver Zach Veach is one of the regulars in the # 12 Lexus RCF GT3, along with co-driver Frankie Montecalvo. These guys were P2 at Mid-Ohio.

Zach Veach
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In Vaser Sullivan’s # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 there are 2 former Indy Pro 2000 champs and Road to Indy aces, Jack Hawksworth and Aaron Telitz.

Aaron Telitz (left), Jack Hawksworth
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Former Champ Car driver Katherine Legge is a regular in the # 88 Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche 911 GT3 R with co-driver Rob Ferriol.

Katherine Legge
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  • The Michelin Pilot Challenge series also has a few IndyCar guys in both classes. They are:

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Grand Sport class - Former Indy Lights champ and IndyCar driver Spencer Pigot drives the # 3 McLaren 570S GT4 for Motorsports in Action with co-driver Sheena Monk. The pair came in P3 at the MPC race at the Glen last weekend and are 3rd in the points, at the moment.

Spencer Pigot
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Former Champ Car driver Jan Heylen will be driving the Wright Motorsports # 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport with co-driver Ryan Hardwick.

Jan Heylen
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TCR class - Indy Pro 2000 alum and paraplegic Michael Johnson will drive the # 54 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Michael Johnson Racing, using hand controls. The car is prepped by Brian Herta Autosport and Michael’s co-driver is Stephen Simpson. These guys podiumed at Daytona, this season.

Michael Johnson
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Road to Indy Shootout contestant and former Porsche Challenge champ Trenton Estep will drive the # 81 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for CB Motorsports with co-driver Mark Kvamme.

Trenton Estep
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Former Indy Lights champion and 2020 TCR class champion Gabby Chaves will drive the # 98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport with co-driver Parker Chase. Gabby is subbing for Ryan Norman who is making his IndyCar debut with Dale Coyne Racing at Mid-Ohio, this weekend.

Gabby Chaves
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  • IMSA Prototype Challenge will have a bunch of IndyCar guys in the LMP3-1 class. They are:

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Road to Indy ace Rasmus Lindh will pull double duty, this weekend, with this drive in the # 6 Ligier JS P320 for Performance Tech Motorsports, again with Dan Goldburg as co-driver. The team may sacrifice the engine in this car to supply the # 38 LMP3 in the WeatherTech race. We’ll see.

Rasmus Lindh
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Road to Indy ace Jake Eidson is a regular in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series but will try an LMP3 in IPC this weekend, with co-driver Brian Thienes. The car is the # 17 Ligier JS P320 from O’Gara Motorsports / USRT - Jake’s Lambo team.

Jake Eidson
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Canadian Garett Grist is an Indy Pro 2000 alum who was the Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 Vice-Champion in 2019. He will share the # 33 Ligier with Ari Balough for Jr III Racing.

Garett Grist
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Indy Pro 2000 alum Antoine Comeau with share the # 40 Duqueine D08 with Team USA Scholarship WINNER Colin Mullan for Conquest Racing / JMF Motorsports.

Antoine Comeau
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Road to Indy ace Dakota Dickerson holds many open-wheel titles in junior formula racing. He’s driving the # 54 Ligier for MLT Motorsports with co-driver Josh Sarchet.

Dakota Dickerson
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Road to Indy Shootout contestant Courtney Crone was the Formula Car Challenge national champ in 2018. She will drive the # 74 Duqueine D08 for Forty 7 Motorsports with Jason Rabe as co-driver.

Courtney Crone
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We will be fully covering the IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio in another thread, this weekend, but we will do our best to stay on top of this IMSA event, right here in the Off-Season thread. Wish us luck.

Thursday will be a day of practice for all three IMSA series in the morning and then all three will qualify later in the day with all the racing on Friday.
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Rinus VeeKay is cleared to drive at Mid-Ohio, this weekend…

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The Nederlander who drives for Ed Carpenter Racing in the # 21 Chevrolet broke his collar bone in a bicycling accident, mid-June, and underwent outpatient surgery that put him out of the Rev Group Grand Prix at Road America, the weekend before last. That had him take a hit in his points battle, dropping from 5th to 6th in the points.

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Rinus VeeKay
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Today, the IndyCar Medical Staff cleared Rinus to drive this weekend in the Honday Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Said Rinus, “First, I need to say thank you to the INDYCAR medical staff, including Dr. Webber, who did my surgery. I am very excited to race this weekend at Mid-Ohio, especially after missing the last race at Road America. I am more motivated than ever.

“I have been working incredibly hard on my recovery, doing all kinds of treatment. I feel I will be right back at the level I was before. I sat in the car earlier this week to make sure I was comfortable, and I was in the simulator yesterday. I have no pain and feel as good as ever.”

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The mountain to climb is a bit steeper, but VeeKay is confident the IndyCar Championship is still in the offing. All he has to do is execute.

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3 new faces for USF2000 this weekend at Mid-Ohio…

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The series that introduces young talent to formula car racing in the Road to Indy is USF2000 - the bottom rung of the three-series development ladder that produces IndyCar drivers - and this weekend the series is doing exactly that with three new faces on the grid.

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14-year-old Christian Weir will make his debut for Turn 3 Motorsports in the # 32 Tatuus USF-17, teaming with fellow rookie Dylan Christie and sophomore Josh Green. Normally, one must be 15 years old to drive in the Road to Indy, but special cases of drivers who have proven their abilty are excepted, and Christian is one such. This year, Weir joined Turn 3 in Formula Race Promotion’s new Eastern F4 series, where he took a WIN at each of the first two rounds, and currently lies 2nd in the points after missing the most recent event. He is also coming off 2 WINS in the Pro 1340 class in Radical Cup racing at Road America, driving for Team Stradale in support of the recent IndyCar race. He and Turn 3 decided to move him now into USF2000 and finish this season, with an eye to the full season in 2022.

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Christian Weir
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16-year-old Chase Hyland has an extensive and excellent background in Quarter Midgets, where he has several championships and national class WINS on his resume. He’s decided to go for formula car racing and has picked Jay Howard Driver Development for his team. In 2020 he drove in 9 F4 United States races for JHDD and this year he’s been in 3 races for them. Now, the jump to USF2000.

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Chase Hyland
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21-year-old Nathan Byrd actually first drove for Legacy Autosport in the Freedom 75 at Lucas Oil Raceway in late May, where he also drove in the Super Crown race and the Midget race on the same weekend. It was his 2nd time ever driving the USF2000 car and he was able to hold his own, bringing the car home where he qualified. Byrd also has 3 starts in the Skip Barber Formula Race series, with a pole and a podium to show.

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Nathan Byrd
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The Mid-Ohio weekend begins in earnest on Thursday, with testing in all three Road to Indy series. With the addition of these three, the grid for USF2000 grows to 28 entrants. Good luck, guys!

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Thursday at Watkins Glen - The big IMSA weekend began today…

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…with practice and qualifying for IMSA Prototype Challenge, and we have the TOPS in practice and the TOP THREE qualifiers for tomorrow’s race here:

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TOPS in practice after two rainy sessions was Stevan McAleer in the # 43 Robillard Racing Duqueine D08 but when it came time to qualify it was Moritz Kranz in the # 21 Duqueine for Muehlner Motorsports America that took pole with a time of 1:41.228s for a speed of 120.915mph. Moritz edged out Josh Sarchet in the # 54 Ligier JS P320 for MLT Motorsports by 0.379 seconds. Third on the grid will be the JDC Motorsports # 40 Duqueine, thanks to David Grant.

Moritz drives the # 21 by himself while Josh shares the # 54 Ligier with Road to Indy ace Dakota Dickerson and David Grant shares the # 40 D08 with brother Keith Grant.

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The # 21 Duqueine for Muehlner Motorsports America - on the pole
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Moritz Kranz
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The Prototype Challenge race is scheduled for late morning on Friday.

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Thursday at Watkins Glen - The big IMSA weekend began today…(part 2)…

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Also practicing in the rain today for 1 session were the gang from the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series, all 5 classes, followed by qualifying for Friday’s race. We have the TOPS in practice and the TOP THREE qualifiers in each class, here:

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DPi class - TOPS in practice was Olivier Pla in the #60 Acura ARX-05 for Meyer Shank Racing, but pole - the 2nd in a row at Watkins Glen - was taken by Ricky Taylor in the # 10 Acura for Wayne Taylor racing with a time of 1:30.058s for a speed of 135.912mph. Ricky bested Olivier by 0.346 seconds. Third on the grid will be the # 01 Cadillac DPi V.R for Cadillac Chip Ganassi Racing, thanks to the efforts of Kevin Magnussen.

Ricky’s co-driver will be fellow points-leader Filipe Albuquerque while Olivier’s co-driver is Dane Cameron. Kevin shares the Caddy with Renger van der Zande.

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Ricky Taylor - 2nd pole in a row for Acura and Wayne Taylor Racing
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LMP2 class - TOPS in practice was Gabriel Aubrey in the # 8 Tower Motorsports ORECA 07 Gibson - repaired from a bad shunt at the Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen - but in qualifying it was Ben Keating in the # 52 ORECA that got pole for PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports with a time of 1:34.969s for a speed of 128.884mph. Ben nipped Six Hours WINNER Steven Thomas in the # 11 ORECA for WIN Autosport by 0.423 seconds. Third on the grid will be Gabriel’s co-driver John Farano in the # 8 Tower car.

Ben shares the # 52 with Mikkel Jensen while Steven shares the WIN car with Tristan Nunez.

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Ben Keating - back-to-back poles at Watkins Glen for PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports
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LMP3 class - TOPS in practice was IndyCar driver Oliver Askew in the # 36 Ligier JS P320 for Andretti Autosport but pole was taken by Mateo Llarena in the # 38 Ligier for Performance Tech Motorsports with a time of 1:42.633s for a speed of 119.259mph. Matteo got on top of Jonathan Bennett in the # 54 CORE Autosport Ligier by a healthy 0.735 seconds. Third on the grid will be the # 36 Ligier, thanks to Oliver’s co-driver Jarett Andretti.

Matteo’s co-driver in the Perf Tech Ligier is IndyCar driver Rasmus Lindh while Jonathan’s co-driver in the CORE car is Colin Braun. The pole-sitting car was able to get a much-needed replacement engine from France, just in time for the race weekend.

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The # 38 Ligier JS P320 for Performance Tech Motorsports - on the pole
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Matteo Llarena
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GTLM class - TOPS in practice was Tommy Milner in the # 4 Corvette C8.R for Corvette Racing but for qualifying it was teammate Jordan Taylor in the # 3 Corvette that took pole with a time of 1:43.821s for a speed of 117.895mph. Jordan beat out Tommy’s co-driver Nick Tandy by 0.224 seconds. Third on the grid will be Cooper MacNeil in the # 79 Porsche 911 RSR - 19 for WeatherTech Racing - the car repaired from last weekend’s race, where it flamed on the first lap after contact.

Jordan’s co-driver in the # 3 Corvette is Antonio Garcia while Cooper’s co-driver in the Porsche is Matt Campbell.

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Jordan Taylor (left) with Antonio Garcia - another back-to-back pole WINNER
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GTD class, position - TOPS in practice was Robby Foley in the # 96 BMW M6 GT3 for Turner Motorsport but the pole was taken instead by Madison Snow in the # 1 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 with a time of 1:59.380s for a speed of 102.529mph. Madison bested Road to Indy ace Aaron Telitz in the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for Vasser Sullivan by 0.440 seconds. Third on the grid will be the # 39 Audi R8 LMS GT3 for CarBahn with Peregrine Racing, thanks to Richard Heistand.

Madison’s co-driver in the Lambo is Bryan Sellers while Aaron’s co-driver in the Lexus is IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth. Richard shares the Audi with Jeff Westphal.

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On the pole in GTD class - Madison Snow
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GTD class, points - Qualifying TOPS in points for the second weekend in a row was IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth in the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for Vasser Sullivan. Jack put the boogie on Bill Auberlen in the # 96 BMW M6 GT3 for Turner Motorsport by 0.514 seconds. Third in points was Daniel Morad in the # 28 Mercedes-AMG for Alegra Motorsports.

Jack shares the Lexus with IndyCar driver Aaron Telitz while Bill shares the Bimmer with Robby Foley. Daniel’s co-driver is Michael de Quesada.

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Jack Hawksworth - TOPS in points qualifying for another weekend.
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The race is scheduled for broadcast on NBC-SN from 6:00pm to 9:00pm EASTERN time on Friday.

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Thursday at Watkins Glen - The big IMSA weekend began today…(part 3)…

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Practicing today in the rain for Friday’s Sahlen’s 120 at the Glen were both classes of the Michelin Pilot Challenge gang. They followed that up with qualifying and we have the TOPS in practice and the TOP THREE in qualifying here, for each class:

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Grand Sport class - TOPS in practice was Eric Foss in the # 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT GT4 but taking the pole was Dillon Machavern in the # 95 BMW M4 GT4 for Turner Motorsport with a time of 1:54.897s for a speed of 106.530mph. Dillon bested Ryan Hardwick in the # 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport for Wright Motorsports by a scant 0.161 seconds. Third on the grid will be Alan Brynjolfsson in the # 7 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for VOLT Racing with Archangel.

Dillon shares the Bimmer with IMSA legend Bill Auberlen while Ryan shares the Porsche with IndyCar driver Jan Heylen. Alan’s co-driver in the Aston is Trent Hindman.

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Dillon Machavern and the BMW M4 GT4 for Turner Motorsport - on the pole
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Touring Car class - TOPS in practice was Belgian Denis Dupont in the # 19 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Van Der Steur Racing but taking pole was Harry Gottsacker in the # 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport with a time of 1:57.444s for a speed of 104.219mph. Harry beat out Brian Henderson in the # 84 Honda Civic FK7 TCR for Atlanta Speedwerks by a tiny 0.161 seconds. Starting third will be the # 98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport, thanks to Parker Chase.

Harry’s co-driver in the # 33 Elantra is Mark Wilkins while Brian’s co-driver in the Honda is Robert Noaker. Parker is sharing the # 98 Elantra with IndyCar driver Gabby Chaves, subbing for Ryan Norman, who is making his IndyCar debut at Mid-Ohio this weekend, driving for Dale Coyne Racing.

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The # 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport - on the pole
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Harry Gottsacker
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The Sahlen’s 120 gets underway Friday at 2:35pm EASTERN, with live coverage on Trackpass on NBC Sports Gold.

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Friday at Watkins Glen - IMSA Prototype Challenge holds Season Round 4…

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…and the WINNER was the MLT Motorsports # 54 Ligier JS P320 with starter Josh Sarchet and closer and Road to Indy ace Dakota Dickerson from their P2 start. P2 went to pole-sitter Moritz Kranz in the # 21 Muehlner Motorsports Duqueine D08 while P3 went to the # 6 Ligier of starter Dan Goldburg and closer and Road to Indy ace Rasmus Lindh from their P4 start.

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Following a solid opening stint from driver Josh Sarchet that kept him in P2, the MLT crew completed a quick enough pit stop to put co-driver Dakota Dickerson into the lead over Moritz Kranz, driving solo in the # 21. Light rain began falling on portions of the track soon after Dickerson took the wheel of the car with about an hour remaining.

Dakota kept the lead through two cautions and their restarts, the last one caused by four cars sliding off the track in the treacherous conditions and crossed the line a solid 18.736 seconds ahead of Kranz. Rasmus Lindh was able to secure P3 from the Keith Grant / David Grant Ligier JS P320 for JDC Motorsports.

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Notable:

  • This was the third career Prototype Challenge WIN for Dickerson and first for Sarchet. It was also the first WIN of the season for the duo, who had finished P2 once and P3 twice in the opening three series races. They are now 2nd in series points, 1270 to Moritz Kranz’ 1280 points.

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Your Happy Podium - That’s Moritz Kranz in P2 on the left, Dakota Dickerson and Josh Sarchet in P1 in the middle and Rasmus Lindh and Dan Goldburg on the right in P3:

IMSAPC POdium

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IMSA Prototype Challenge will next race at the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR, October 8-10.

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Friday at Watkins Glen - The Michelin Pilot Challenge Sahlen’s 120 at The Glen…

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…was WON by BMW ace and IMSA legend Bill Auberlen and starter Dillon Machavern in the # 95 BMW M4 GT4 for Turner Motorsports from pole while P2 went to P2 starter Ryan Hardwick and closer and IndyCar driver Jan Heylen in the # 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport for Wright Motorsports and P3 went to the # 46 Team TGM Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R of Hugh and Matt Plumb, from their P4 start.

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Bill Auberlen (left) and Dillon Machavern
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The race ended in the rain, with Auberlen in the # 95 Bimmer just feet ahead of Heylen in the Porsche. A caution had erased the lead that Auberlen had built up with only a few laps to go, but on the restart in the slick conditions he was able to inch away, finishing a mere 0.615 seconds ahead of Heylen.

The WIN puts Auberlen and Machavern back into the points lead, with 1390 points to Sheena Monk and IndyCar driver Spencer Pigot, with 1280 points.

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In Touring Car class the WINNERS were starter Brian Henderson and closer Robert Noaker in the # 84 Honda Civic F7K TCR for Atlanta Speedwerks from a P2 start. P2 went initially to the team sister car, the # 94 Honda of Scott Smithson and Ryan Eversely, but the post-race inspection found the car to be too light and it was moved to the back of the finish. That elevated the # 61 Road Shagger Racing Audi RS 3 LMS TCR to a runner-up finish for Gavin Ernstone and Jon Morley, with Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis inheriting third place in the # 77 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Veloster N TCR.

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The # 84 Honda FK7 TCR Civic for Atlanta Speedwerks for the WIN
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Brian Henderson (left) and Robert Noaker
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The next outing for the Michelin Pilot Challenge will be the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, July 16-17.

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Friday at Watkins Glen - The WeatherTech 240 at the Glen…

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The WeatherTech Sportscar Championship sprint race at Watkins Glen came off with a mid-race red flag and 46-minute delay, due to lightning, and ended in the dark with a VICTORY overall and in DPi class by the # 31 Whelen Cadillac Dpi V.R for Action Express driven by IndyCar driver Pipo Derani and Felipe Nasr, who crossed the line 1.473 seconds ahead of Renger van der Zande in the # 01 Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac DPi V.R he co-drove with Kevin Magnussen. The # 10 Konica Minolta Acura DPi ARX-05 driven by Filipe Albuquerque and Ricky Taylor finished third, increasing its lead in the DPi class to 81 points over the # 55 Mazda Motorsports Mazda DPi of drivers Harry Tincknell and Oliver Jarvis.

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Pipo Derani (left) and Felipe Nasr for the WIN
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The # 52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA 07 Gibson shared by Ben Keating and Mikkel Jensen also maintained its points lead in the LMP2 class with a 22-second WIN over the # 11 WIN Autosport ORECA co-driven by Tristan Nunez and Steven Thomas. P3 went to Gabriel Aubry and John Farano in the # 8 Tower Motorsport ORECA. Keating and Jensen now lead the points by 35 over Nunez and Thomas.

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Ben Keating (left) and Mikkel Jensen for the WIN
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In LMP3 class a one-pit-stop strategy made the difference for the # 74 Riley Motorsports Ligier JS P320 with Gar Robinson and Felipe Fraga, who WON their 4th race in 5 outings, keeping Robinson in the points lead. Fraga won by just 0.276 seconds over Dylan Murry in the sister car, the # 91 Riley Motorsports Ligier he shared with Jim Cox. Colin Braun and Jonathan Bennett were third in the # 54 CORE Autosport Ligier. At 1468 points, Robinson is now a healthy 96 points over Colin Braun and Jon Bennett.

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Gar Robinson (left) and Felipe Fraga for the 4th WIN in 5 season races
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WINNING the GTLM class was the # 3 Corvette C8.R for Corvette Racing with Jordan Taylor starting and Antonio Garcia taking the lead and the WIN on the final restart, besting the # 4 Corvette of starter Nick Tandy and closer Tommy Milner. P3 went to the # 79 Porsche 911 RSR-19 of Cooper MacNeil and Matt Campbell for WeatherTech Racing. This was the third WIN in the four points-paying races this year for Garcia and Taylor. Garcia and Taylor have 156 points on Milner and Tandy, at this point.

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Antonio Garcia (left) and Jordan Taylor
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Finally, the WINNERS of the GTD class were IndyCar drivers Jack Hawksworth and Aaron Telitz in the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for Vasser Sullivan, in another lead change at the final restart after a caution. Running third when the race went green, Hawksworth overtook Jeff Westphal in the # 39 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 and Vasser Sullivan teammate and IndyCar driver Zach Veach in the # 12 Lexus on the same lap. Despite missing a portion of the front fender which hurt the car’s airflow, Hawksworth was able to WIN by 0.707 seconds, earning his 7th career WIN and the 4th for co-driver Aaron Telitz. Veach and co-driver Frankie Montecalvo earned their second P2 of the season, making it a Vasser-Sullivan 1-2 sweep on the podium. Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn in the # 23 Heart Of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 came home 3rd.

Despite excellence and speed from the start of the season, the Vasser Sullivan cars - especially the # 14 - have had incredibly bad racing luck that kept them off the podiums. The team was understandably over the moon with the sweep. Leaving Watkins Glen, Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley lead the points with 1296 to 1235 for Roman De Angelis and Ross Gunn.

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left to right, Aaron Telitz, Jack Hawksworth, Zach Veach and Frankie Montecalvo - over the moon
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The next outing for the WeatherTech gang is the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, July 16-17, with only the GTLM class and GTD class in attendence.

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Andretti Autoport is testing on Tuesday…

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Last February, Andretti Autosport teamed up with former IndyCar driver and race WINNER Michel Jourdain to form Andretti Jourdain Autosport, which competes in the Mexican Super Copa series. This new partnership marks a 7th motorsport discipline for Andretti’s U.S.-based brand that already competes in IndyCar, Indy Lights, and the LMP3 class in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, in addition to overseas operations in the FIA Formula E Championship, Extreme E and Virgin Australia Supercars.

The partnership with Jourdain will bear fruit on Tuesday as Andretti Jourdain’s Touring Car driver, Salvador de Alba, Jr. will get a test in one of the team’s Indy Lights cars at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where the team just finished a WIN sweep of the weekend racing.

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Salvador de Alba, Jr.
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De Alba Jr. began his racing career in karting in the late 2000s before transitioning most recently to the NASCAR Peak Mexico Championship and the Super Copa Championship, where he drives in SC Súper Copa Mercedes Benz. The 20-year-old from Guadalajara currently sits atop the championship standings in both series and is fresh off a WIN in the Super Copa Championship at San Luis Potosí.

Said Michael Andretti, “I’m really happy to offer the opportunity of an Indy Lights test to Salvador. Through our partnership, Michel has brought Salvador to our attention and we have been following his career. He is a promising, young talent and we look forward to helping him grow and hopefully seeing him in the Road to Indy program soon.”

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AJ Foyt Enterprises is testing Tatiana Calderón on Tuesday…

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Calderón is one of the most experienced female drivers in the business, competing in Touring Cars, GT cars and the full range of Formula cars and Prototypes throughout her career, and that includes two seasons in Indy Pro 2000 in 2010 and 2011.

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Tatiana Calderón at Mid-Ohio, last weekend
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The 28-year-old from Colombia, will drive the ROKiT-sponsored # 14 Chevrolet at the test at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, as she also is supported by ROKiT. Calderon was with the team last weekend at the Honda Indy 200 to observe Sebastien Bourdais, the usual pilot of the car.

Said Tatiana, “I’m very excited and thankful to Jonathan Kendrick at ROKiT and Larry Foyt for this incredible opportunity. I started my single-seater career in the U.S., and it has always been a dream to drive an IndyCar one day. I’m sure it will be a great challenge, and I can’t wait to have the experience to drive around Mid-Ohio on Tuesday, learn about the car and enjoy the chance to drive one of the fastest race cars on the planet.”

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We hit the 4th of July and 16K views of the thread at the same time…

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…so, let’s celebrate!
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GridGirl-39 4thofJuly

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The guys at the Team USA Scholarship wanted to crow on the 4th of July weekend…

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There’s a reason we like to tout the Team USA Scholarship in the F1600 realm. It consistently ferrets out and identifies great American talents early in their careers. The list of alums who have gone on to WOW us all with their abilities is extensive.

To make that point, Team USA Scholarship is pointing out the alums who WON or podiumed their races over the recent 4th of July weekend. They were:

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Simon Sikes - The 2020 alum was P3, P3 and P2 at Mid-Ohio in the three USF2000 races on the 4th of July weekend, after also grabbing a P2 at Road America, two weeks ealier. It’s just a matter of time before Simon breaks through for that first R.T.I. WIN.

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Simon Sikes
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Tristan Nunez - The 2012 alum posted a P2 finish in the LMP2 class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Watkins Glen on the 4th, a week after taking the WIN at the Sahlen’s Six Hours at the Glen in the same class, same car. Tristan WON the Walter Hayes Trophy race when he was the Team USA representative in 2012.

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Tristan Nunez
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Dakota Dickerson - The 2015 alum WON his 4th of July weekend race in IMSA’s Prototype Challenge series at Watkins Glen.

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Dakota Dickerson
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Aaron Telitz - the 2014 alum WON in the GTD class in the WeatherTech 240 at Watkins Glen on the 4th of July weekend.

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Aaron Telitz
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Kyle Kirkwood - Kyle was a Team USA Scholarship WINNER in 2016. He swept the 4th of July weekend at Mid-Ohio in Indy Lights, WINNING both races - his 6th WIN in 2021 and 2nd weekend sweep in 2021.

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Kyle Kirkwood
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Josef Newgarden - When he was a Team USA Scholarship WINNER in 2008, Josef became the only American to WIN the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. On the 4th of July Josef WON the IndyCar Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio from pole.

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Josef Newgarden
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Later this year, we are going to report on the 2021 Team USA Scholarship WINNERS. When we do, file those names away in your memory. You are very likely to hear of them, again.

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Top Gun Racing is coming to Indianapolis to race on the Road Course, this August,…

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…for the Big Machine Spiked Cooler Grand Prix. The team, owned by Bill & Stephanie Throckmorton and helmed by Lucas Oil Racing School president Neil Enerson, attempted to get driver RC Enerson and the # 75 Chevrolet into the 104th running of the Indy 500, this year, but lost out in Last Chance Qualifying, after posting the fewest laps in practice of any team at the event.

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The # 75 for Top Gun Racing at the Indy 500, this year.
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Since the Indy 500 attempt, the team has worked to get the funding for a few races this season and is currently attempting to sell ad space on the car. Neil Enerson insists they have enough funding to do the August 14th weekend race on the Road Course, on the same weekend that the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series will share the track with IndyCars. Between now and then the team will test at an unspecified track, to give RC as much seat time as possible. Enerson had an excellent Road to Indy career and has shown well in the few IndyCar races he’s been in since, driving for Carlin and Dale Coyne Racing.

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RC Enerson
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It’s always hard to get advertisers when you aren’t racing and it’s hard to race without advertisers, but Meyer Shank Racing proved that with time, one can build a competitive IndyCar team from nearly nothing. We hope Top Gun makes it to the race in August, and we hope it’s not their last race of the season.

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IndyCar has a great new blurb…

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A “blurb” is a small video - usually about 30 seconds in length - that can be plugged into any situation on the internet or on TV or even at a movie theater. It’s supposed to excite the viewer and compel them to learn more about the subject. IndyCar’s latest blurb really hits it out of the park, showcasing the dramatic highs and the lows of the series and the multifaceted tracks they run on, while featuring veteran drivers along with the new, young lions attempting to chart their own series histories…all in 30 seconds.

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Take a look at “Defy Everything”:

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8 different WINNERS in 10 races on three drifferent kinds of tracks - ovals, natural road courses and temporary street courses - and all at the highest level of performance - incredible!

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The Stadium Super Trucks are joining the Music City Grand Prix line-up…

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…at Nashville, August 6th through 8th, with 2 races, one each on Saturday and Sunday. Coming off a very successful run with the IndyCars at Mid-Ohio, the SSTs have adjusted their schedule so they can add to the excitement of the inaugural IndyCar street course race weekend in Tennesee.

At least 11 Super Truck drivers will be racing, including NASCAR truck driver Sheldon Creed, Jeff Ward, Bo Lemastus, Bill Hynes, Robert Stout, Max Gordon, NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and IndyCar drivers Robby Gordon, Matthew Brabham and Arie Luyendyk, Jr.

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Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks at Mid-Ohio
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We were able to bring you both SST races at Mid-Ohio in the Mid-Ohio IndyCar thread, but those races had commentary, which makes it impossible to hear the mighty 600 horsepower Chevrolet engines of the trucks and noise the trucks make when they ramp up and then return to Earth, and that’s half the fun of them.

We have here an “insider’s view” of the Mid-Ohio race weekend, with video from Max Gordon, series founder Robby Gordon’s 13-year-old son and one of the series drivers. (Max, who has been around his dad’s off-road antics all his young life, is currently 5th in the points, so the kid knows how to wheel these things.) This one has a ton of in-car, or should we say “in-truck” camera work and a lot of that glorious noise:

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Other support series previously announced for the Music City Grand Prix are SRO GT Americas, planning to do 2 races, and the Trans-Am Series, holding a single race for their TA-2 class on Saturday.

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IMSA returns to racing this weekend at historic Lime Rock Park…

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…for the annual Northeast Grand Prix. Anyone who’s ever been to Lime Rock knows that the 1.53-mile Connecticut road course is too small for today’s prototype racing but is perfect for GT racing and that’s what IMSA has all lined up for the weekend, with both GT classes of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series and the full slate of the Michelin Pilot Challenge series and IndyCar drivers will be in both.

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Let’s see who they are, starting with the WeatherTech gang:

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GTD class - Road to Indy ace Zach Veach will drive the # 12 Lexus RCF GT3 for Vasser Sullivan, with co-driver Frankie Montecalvo. Zach and Frankie are coming off a P2 at the WeatherTech 240 at Watkins Glen - their second P2 of the season.

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Zach Veach
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IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth will drive the sister car, the # 14 Lexus for Vasser Sullivan, with Road to Indy ace Aaron Telitz. Both of these guys were Indy Pro 2000 Champions in days past. They are coming off their first WIN for 2021 at Watkins Glen, where Vasser Sullivan came home 1, 2 for the first time, this season.

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Jack Hawksworth (left), and Aaron Telitz
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IndyCar driver Katherine Legge will drive the # 88 Porsche 911 GT3 R for Team Hardpoint EBM with co-driver Rob Ferriol.

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Katherine Legge
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  • The Michelin Pilot Challenge series also has a few IndyCar guys racing in both classes. They are:

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Grand Sport class - IndyCar driver Spencer Pigot will drive the # 3 McLaren 570S GT4 for Motorsports in Action with co-driver Sheena Monk. Spencer and Sheena are currenlty 2nd in the points, behind Bill Auberlen and Dillon Machavern, who drive for Turner Motorsport.

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Spencer Pigot
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IndyCar driver Jan Heylen will drive the # 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport for Wright Motorsports with co-driver Ryan Hardwick. These guys already have three P2 finishes in 4 series races this year, but are looking for that first WIN of the season.

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Jan Heylen
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USF2000 driver Nolan Siegel will drive the # 93 Audi R8 GT4 for CarBahn with Peregrine with co-driver Tom Dyer. 16-year-old Nolan WON the 2020 eight-hour World Racing League endurance event at Circuit of the Americas, driving an Aston Martin with Tom and his father, Mark Siegel.

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Nolan Siegel
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Touring Car class - IndyCar driver and paraplegic Michael Johnson will drive the # 54 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Michael Johnson Racing, using hand controls. The car is prepped by Bryan Herta Autosport and co-driven by Stephen Simpson.

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Michael Johnson
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Road to Indy Shootout finalist Trenton Estep will drive the # 81 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for CB Motorsports with co-driver Mark Kvamme.

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Trenton Estep
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Indy Lights alum and 2020 TCR class Champion Ryan Norman will drive the # 98 Hyundai Elantra N TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport with co-driver Parker Chase. Ryan is coming off his IndyCar debut at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, driving for Dale Coyne Racing w/ Rick Ware Racing.

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Ryan Norman
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Lime Rock Park is one of the oldest and most historic natural road courses in North America, hosting major racing events since 1957. Only Road America and Willow Springs are older.

One of the unique things about the course is that a court injunction in 1959 banned racing on Sundays as a noise abatement for nearby church-goers, but allows unrestricted racing and noise on Fridays and Saturdays. That injunction is still in force, so all Lime Rock events conclude on Saturdays.

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Lime Rock Park

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The weekend begins on Friday, with practice and qualifying for both series. The racing will be on Saturday - by law!

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Friday at Lime Rock Park - IMSA goes to practice and qualifying…

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…for the Northeast Grand Prix weekend. That meant two practices each for the Michelin Pilot Challenge series and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series, followed by qualifying.

The day of practice was somewhat tempered by rains that stopped the action, at times, but eventually all the running culmintated in qualifying for both classes of both series and we have the TOPS in practice and the TOP THREE qualifiers here, from each class, starting with the Michelin Pilot Challenge gang:

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Grand Sport class - TOPS after two practice sessions was Tom Dyer for CarBahn with Peregrine in the # 93 Audi R8 GT4 that he shares with USF2000 driver Nolan Siegel, but when it came time to qualify it was Patrick Gallagher in the # 23 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for Notlad Racing by RS1 with a time of 54.110s for a speed of 98.332mph. patrick beat out Bill Auberlen in the # 95 BMW M4 GT4 for Turner Motorsport by a teensy 0.028 seconds. Starting 3rd will be Hugh Plumb in the # 46 Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R for Team TGM. The youngest driver in the field - 16-year-old Nolan Siegel - qualified 4th in the CarBahn w/ Peregrin Audi.

Patrick Gallagher shares the Aston Martin with Stevan McAleer while Bill Auberlen shares the Bimmer with Dillon Machavern. Hugh Plumb’s co-driver in the Camaro is Matt Plumb.

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The # 23 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for Notlad Racing by RS1 - on the pole
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Patrick Gallagher
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Touring Car class - TOPS after two practice sessions was Tyler Gonzalez in the # 27 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Copeland Motorsports with times faster than several GS class cars, and that speed translated to pole for Tyler in qualifying, with a time of 54.206s for a speed of 98.158mph. Tyler bested Rory van der Steur in another Veloster, the # 19 for Van der Steur Racing, by 0.133 seconds. Brian Henderson will start 3rd in the # 84 Honda Civic FK7 TCR for Atlanta Speedwerks.

Tyler’s co-driver in the # 27 Veloster is Tyler Maxson while Rory’s co-driver in the # 19 Veloster is Denis Dupont. Brian shares the Honda with Robert Noaker.

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Tyler Gonzales and the # 27 Hyundai Veloster N TCR for Copeland Motorsports - on the pole
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The Lime Rock Park 120 will be broadcast worldwide on IMSA TV and in the USA on NBC Gold Track Pass, starting at 11:00am EASTERN time on Saturday.

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Friday at Lime Rock Park - IMSA goes to practice and qualifying…(part 2)…

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The WeatherTech gang also had two practice sessions today, followed by qualifying and we have the TOPS in practice and the TOP THREE qualifiers in both classes here:

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GTLM class - TOPS In practice was Antonio Garcia in the # 3 Corvette C8.R for Corvette Racing and when it came time to qualifying it was co-driver Jordan Taylor who took pole with a time of 49.958s for a speed of 106.216mph. Jordan bested Tommy Milner in the # 4 Corvette by 0.142 seconds. Starting 3rd will be Cooper MacNeil in the # 79 Porsche 911 RSR - 19 for WeatherTech Racing.

Tommy’s co-driver in the # 4 Corvette is Nick Tandy while Cooper’s co-driver in the Porsche is Mathieu Jaminet.

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The # 3 Corvette C8.R for Corvette Racing - on the pole
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Jordan Taylor
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GTD class, position - TOPS in practice for today was Zacharie Robichon in the # 9 Porsche 911 GT3 R for PFAFF Motorsports but taking the pole was Roman De Angelis in the # 23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for Heart of Racing Team with a time of 51.729s for a speed of 102.580mph. Roman got on top of IndyCar driver Aaron Telitz in the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for Vasser Sullivan by a teensy 0.045 seconds. Starting 3rd will be Richard Heistand in the # 39 Audi R8 LMS GT3 for CarBahn with Peregrine Racing.

Roman’s co-driver in the Aston is Ross Gunn while Aaron’s co-driver in the Lexus is fellow IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth. Richard shares the Audi with Jeff Westphal.

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The # 23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for Heart of Racing Team - on the pole
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Roman De Angelis (left) and Ross Gunn
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GTD class, points - TOPS in points was IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth in the # 14 Lexus RCF GT3 for Vasser Sullivan with a time of 51.545s for a speed of 102.946mph. His time made him the fastest Pro driver in GTD class for the 4th time this year. He bested Mario Farnbacher in the # 76 Acura NSX GT3 for Compass Racing by 0.0.48 seconds - a tiny difference. 3rd quickest was Franck Perera in the # 19 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 for GRT Grasser Racing Team.

Jack shares the Lexus with fellow IndyCar driver Aaron Telitz, while Mario shares the Acura with Jeff Kingsley. Franck’s co-driver in the Lambo is Misha Goikhberg.

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Jack Hawksworth - TOPS in points for the 4th time in 2021.
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The Northeast Grand Prix is set for LIVE broadcast worldwide on Saturday on IMSA TV and in the USA on NBC Sports Gold’s Track Pass at 3:05pm EASTERN time, with a tape-delayed broadcast on NBC-SN starting at 5:30pm EASTERN time.

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