Justin Rothberg led the primary GT America Powered by AWS race of the weekend on Friday afternoon on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from the inexperienced flag to the checkered flag, crossing the end line 3.358s forward of Johnny O’Connell. The identical held true within the GT4 class as Isaac Sherman constructed up a large hole over the remainder of the sphere. Nevertheless, all bets had been off for the result of the race, and the ultimate podium positions weren’t determined till the very finish.
SRO3
It was a chaotic begin for James Sofronas, who began alongside the No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 machine of Rothberg because the race obtained underway. Nevertheless, after operating too deep into the primary nook, Sofronas’ No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 was relegated right down to fifth place after he went off observe on the opening lap.
This benefitted O’Connell within the No. 3 SKI Autosports Audi R8 LMS GT3, in addition to Mirco Schultis within the No. 70 MISHUMOTORS Callaway Corvette Z06 GT3, and championship chief Jason Daskalos within the No. 27 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Sofronas was not going to let this mishap decide the result of his race, and he masterfully started to carve his method again by way of the sphere. He first set his sights on Daskalos, and the 2 drivers went side-by-side by way of Flip 1 and a couple of, with Sofronas ultimately profitable the battle.
The wheel-to-wheel motion allowed the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R of Kyle Washington to catch up and get into the combo, a lot to the dismay of Daskalos, who initially dropped behind. However, Daskalos didn’t let Washington’s overtake part him, and claimed the place again within the ultimate ten minutes of the race. In the end, it was Daskaslo that received this dash to the end, and rounded off the highest 5 behind Shultis.
Rothberg crossed the end line unchallenged, scoring necessary factors within the championship battle. O’Connell got here in second place, with Sofronas on the third step of the rostrum.
There was additional drama as Daskalos made contact with Shultis on the ultimate lap of the race, which despatched the latter for a spin, leading to a post-race penalty for the championship chief.
“It was actually useful to get some noon laps in,” Rothberg mentioned — pulling double responsibility and operating in Fanatec GT World Problem America powered by AWS as effectively. “We’re about to move into qualifying for the Indy 8 Hour, so it’s good to be ready. It’s been a busy day, and that is my first time racing a GT3 on this observe, so it’s been an awesome expertise—positively one thing I wanted. We’ll see how that interprets.”
In the meantime, Dan Knox maintained his tempo and consistency on board his Mercedes-AMG GT2. He began the place he completed, in eighth place, after a really clear drive.
“It’s fairly a machine,” Knox mentioned about his No. 10 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. “It’s obtained numerous energy and a little bit downforce, so it’s a must to actually drive it exhausting round this observe.”
GT4
With an open street forward of him, it was a clear getaway for Sherman within the No. 098 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport as he took the inexperienced flag from the entrance of the pack.
Grey Newell instantly went on the assault in his No. 25 Coronary heart of Racing Workforce Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 as he tried to search out the No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Curt Swearingin for second place.
Simply as the whole lot seemed as if it was all mentioned and finished for the highest three, a late-stage incident between Swearingin and Newell dropped the previous down the operating order, and he was later given a post-race penalty for incident duty.
As this argy-bargy unfolded, Damir Scorching was in a position to make his well beyond and transfer himself up the ladder, crossing the end line in second within the No. 5 Flying Lizard Motorsports Nissan Z NISMO GT4, with Swearingin clinging on to the ultimate step of the rostrum.
“It was an awesome expertise,” Sherman mentioned. “I went on the market, put my head down, and began doing laps, training for the GT4 race tomorrow. I figured some issues out, and it labored out rather well. I’m tremendous comfortable.”
The GT America Powered by AWS area will return to the observe for race two on Sunday, October sixth at 8:35 a.m. ET.
