LONG BEACH – Tempers flared and the patience of the drivers was tested in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race Saturday at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Cadillac Racing drivers Renger van der Zande and Sebastien Bourdais won the GTP race, 0.564 seconds ahead of Whelen Cadillac Racing drivers Jack Aitken and Pipo Derani, giving Cadillac the top-two spots in the race.
“Winning is just more fun,” van der Zande said. “If you can get through the first corner here, you can win races.”
Once the cars made it through the first corner and the first lap of the race, the cautions started coming out. In the end though, it worked in van der Zande and Bourdais’ favor. They were able to complete the race on one set of tires and maintain the lead once they moved out front.
“I couldn’t be any happier for the guys,” Bourdais said.
VasserSullivan drivers Ben Barnicoat and Parker Thompson won the GTD race in a Lexus RC F. They finished 1.149 seconds ahead of Turner Motorsports drivers Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher in a BMW M4.
Six cars, two in GTP and four in GTD, did not finish the race because of collisions or contact. There were 18 full caution yellow laps in the race.
Bourdais started the race in the Team Cadillac car on the second row and in third position. Derani led the race and was out front until driver swaps began and Aitken took over the Whelen Racing Cadillac.
“We had a great car all weekend,” Aitken said, adding it “was frustrating to miss out on a win.”
“I enjoyed my fight. I wish we had more laps,” he said.
Derani said the opening laps were a bit of a cat and mouse game battling for track position.
“It’s one of those tracks where it’s very hard to pass,” Derani said. “It’s part of the game, but overall happy with the weekend.”
Porsche Penske Motorsport drivers Felipe Nasr and Dane Cameron were third in the GTP race. Korthoff/Preston Motorsport drivers Mike Skeen and Mikael Grenier were third in a Mercedes AMG in the GTD race.
Derani started on the overall pole and the pole for the GTP class. It was his third pole in a row and the 12th of his career in IMSA.
VasserSullivan driver Parker Thompson in a Lexus RC F won the pole for the GTD class.
The GTP drivers completed 68 laps in the 100-minute race around the 1.97-mile street course. The GTD drivers completed 65 laps
SRO GT America Series
CRP/Daskalos driver Jason Daskalos in a Mercedes AMG won the SRO3 class in the SRO GT America Series race. Johnny O’Connell, who started on the pole, was second in the SRO3 race and won the masters race for drivers over 60.
“It was a lot of fun working through traffic,” O’Connell said. “We brought the car home. It was a good job for us.”
Lonestar Racing driver Dan Knox won the GT2 race in a Mercedes AMG. He was also the pole winner in the GT2 race.
Rotek Racing driver Isaac Sherman won the GT4 race in a Porsche 718 Cayman.
“That car was amazing,” Sherman said. “I just felt right at home, right away.”
Saturday’s races were the first of two GT America Series races at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. The second race is Sunday at 4:20 p.m.
Historic Indy Car Challenge
Tim DeSilva of Rancho Palos Verdes, driving a 1995 Lola T9500, won the Historic Indy Car Challenger race.
Jordan Roddy from Australia was second in a 2005 Lola B05/00. Dennis Firestone from Yorba Linda was third in a 1981 Eagle.
The top two drivers completed 10 laps.
