Neither illness nor rain may stop a decided Jagger Jones from getting again to victory lane within the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Problem.
A day after a win within the No. 87 FastMD Racing with Remstar Duqueine D08 was negated by a postrace technical infraction, Jones rebounded to win Sunday’s 45m race on the 10-turn, 2.459-mile high-speed highway course. Jones was hampered all through by a abdomen sickness and endured a treacherous closing few laps racing in moist circumstances after a light-weight rain fell across the circuit and the whole discipline was introduced into the pits for a compulsory change to wet-condition Michelin tires. Nonetheless, he persevered to choose up his fifth general and Le Mans Prototype 3 (P3) win within the final six VP Racing Problem races.
“We actually dominated on monitor each days this weekend, which is superior,” Jones stated. “It regarded clean from the surface however I used to be tremendous nauseous for some motive; I’ve been actually sick all weekend. We introduced it house good and clear, thanks to the Remstar FastMD guys. Somewhat mistake yesterday however as we speak every thing’s all cleaned up and one other win for us.”
The race started within the dry, with Jones bumping his well beyond polesitter Steven Aghakhani (No. 6 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320) as they battled by way of Flip 2 on the opening lap. Rain started on components of the monitor lower than 10m later, with a full-course warning ordered shortly after. Race officers declared it a moist race on the midway level, bringing all vehicles in for the grooved Michelin tires and returning them to the monitor in the identical operating order.
Racing resumed with slightly below six minutes to go and Jones was off and operating away. He took the checkered flag 8.365s forward of Aghakhani, with Alex Kirby (No. 7 Efficiency Tech Motorsports Ligier) ending third for the second straight day.
“As soon as we went on the rain tires, they have been tremendous strong,” Jones stated. “I’ve solely performed like six laps on these rain tires earlier than, so I used to be a little bit hesitant at first. However as soon as I constructed that hole, I simply type of managed it.”
With two rounds and 4 races remaining this season, Aghakhani holds a snug 500-point lead over Brian Thienes (No. 77 Forte Racing Ligier) atop the standings. Jones is third, 100 factors behind Thienes.
Jake Galstad/IMSA
Rain dance pays off for Inexperienced with maiden sequence win in GSX
Josh Inexperienced hoped it could rain in Sunday’s race, sensing he may make his technique to the entrance within the Grand Sport X (GSX) class. Inexperienced’s want got here true and so did he, making a strategic go in site visitors on the penultimate lap and rolling on to his first VP Racing Problem victory within the No. 78 Thaze Competitors Mercedes-AMG GT GT4.
Inexperienced sat in third place when the race restarted late within the moist circumstances, trailing Race 1 winner Jack Polito (No. 98 Polito Racing Ford Mustang GT4) and Jesse Lazare (No. 21 Motorsports In Motion McLaren Artura GT4). Three laps later, a slower P3 automobile balked the trio and Inexperienced made his transfer to maneuver previous each Polito and Lazare.
From there, the Mount Kisco, New York, resident edged away to win by 1.208s over Lazare.
“I used to be doing the rain dance the entire weekend,” Inexperienced stated. “As soon as we put the wets on, I used to be fairly assured. I’ve had numerous nice races within the rain.
“We obtained a P3 automobile type of caught in entrance of us and he blocked everybody,” he added. “I knew that that was going to be the chance to get clear. It feels candy, I’m so completely happy. That is such an superior group, it’s like household to me. I’ve been so fortunate that they took me below their wing. It’s my first actual season in sports activities vehicles and to win it on my third attempt is superior.”
Lazare trails GSX championship chief Luca Mars (No. 59 KohR Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4) by 190 factors with 4 races remaining. Each courses race subsequent at VIRginia Worldwide Raceway as a part of the Michelin GT Problem at VIR weekend from Aug. 23-25.
