Motorsport News

Penske Scores IMSA 1-2 In Rough Road America Sprint Race

Mathieu Jaminet and Nick Tandy celebrate their victory in the IMSA SportsCar Weekend race at Road America, 8/4/2024 (Photo: Courtesy of IMSA)

Penske Porsche Motorsport’s Mathieu Jaminet took the lead during the final caution Sunday (Aug. 4) when Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Global’s Ricky Taylor chose to stop for fresh tires. Jaminet was able to hold off teammate Felipe Nasr to win the IMSA SportsCar Weekend event at Road America alongside Nick Tandy. It is the duo’s second win of the year after having won at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in May.

“In these kind of [situation], it’s the best to have your teammate behind you, but at the same time, the worst,” Jaminet told NBC Sports’ Chris Wilner in victory lane. “We both want to win, but at the same time, you don’t want to crash your teammate. Awesome day for the team. It’s been a tough weekend with missing performance.”

Jaminet and Tandy’s margin of victory was .390 seconds over teammates Nasr and Dane Cameron. Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque recovered from their late pit stop to finish third, then Action Express Racing’s Jack Aitken and Pipo Derani. Proton Competition’s Gianmaria Bruni and Bent Viscaal were fifth in their customer Porsche.

Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Global’s Filipe Albuquerque started from pole in his Acura and held off teammate Jordan Taylor. However, this ended up being a very rough opening lap.

Action Express Racing’s Pipo Derani spun in turn 6 and fell all the way down the order after contact from Porsche Penske Motorsport’s Nick Tandy. Tandy was given a drive-through penalty for the incident.

Meanwhile, Corvette Racing with Pratt Miller Motorsports’ Alexander Sims was hit by Ford Multimatic Motorsports’ Mike Rockenfeller in turn 5, spinning Sims into the gravel.

Sims was unable to get out of the trap and drew the first caution of the race. Meanwhile, Rockenfeller broke a lower control arm when he hit Sims, which resulted in a trip behind the wall for repairs.

After the restart, Jordan Taylor started to pressure Albuquerque for the overall lead. Taylor was eventually able to get the move done in turn 8.

Shortly afterwards, WTRAndretti’s Danny Formal went off-course in the Carousel with smoke in the cockpit. Fearing a fire, Formal stopped the car to get a fire extinguisher, drawing the second yellow.

The caution resulted in a split pit strategy as Taylor and many of the leaders pitted. Albuquerque chose to stay out and retook the lead.

The cautions allowed Albuquerque to stay out well beyond the one-hour mark. 68 minutes…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at …