IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Race Report - Laguna Seca

September 16, 2019

Track: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Race: Monterey SportsCar Championship presented by McLaren
Date: September 15, 2019

No. 6 Acura ARX-05 DPi – Dane Cameron/Juan Pablo Montoya

Start: 2nd
Overall Finish: 1st
Class Finish: 1st
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 121/121
Points: 1st (2 74 pts)

Recap:

Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya have placed themselves at the doorstep of the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship after scoring the win in the Monterey SportsCar Championship presented by McLaren on Sunday afternoon at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
The victory makes it seven-consecutive podium finishes for the No. 6 Acura ARX-05 Prototype team, a streak that dates back to the Acura Grand Prix at Long Beach in April. It also marked a celebratory cap to Team Penske’s 200th sports car start in team history.
Montoya qualified the No. 6 Acura on the outside of the front row on Saturday, just behind teammate Ricky Taylor. The Colombian native would keep the car in the second position until the first pit stop of the day with just over two hours left in the event.
Cameron then took his turn behind the wheel and he was able to eventually overtake Taylor to push the team into the lead. Aside from pit cycles, Cameron would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the two hour and 40-minute event.
The No. 6 Acura team now carry a 12-point lead into the season-finale weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on October 12.

Quote:

"It’s really, really nice to get a big win here. This is the level of performance and execution [three wins and seven consecutive podium finishes] that is expected of a Team Penske program: to be a contender for race wins week-in and week-out. It’s what makes us excited to be a part of it. It’s also what is expected of us as a group. I really feel like we’re firing on all cylinders and the team is doing an amazing job with both pit stops and race strategy. The car’s been absolutely amazing."
- Dane Cameron

No. 7 Acura ARX-05 DPi – Helio Castroneves/Ricky Taylor

Start: 1st
Overall Finish: 2nd
Class Finish: 2nd
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 121/121
Points: 3rd (-20)

Recap:

Helio Castroneves and Ricky Taylor started Sunday’s Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca from the pole position, and their second-place finish helped provide Acura Team Penske with their second 1-2 finish in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition.
Taylor placed the No. 7 Acura atop the qualifying pylon on Saturday afternoon, his first IMSA pole position since the same Laguna Seca weekend in 2017.
The 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champion would keep the Acura at the front of the field until just prior to the one-hour mark of the race when teammate Dane Cameron powered past for the lead.
Castroneves took his turn at the reins at the one hour and 14-minute mark of the race and he piloted the No. 7 behind Cameron the rest of the way to score the first 1-2 Acura Team Penske finish of 2019.
The second-place result moves the No. 7 Acura team into third place in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship points, 20 points behind their teammates with the next race the season finale at Michelin Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday, October 12.

Quote:

"The primary goal today was to maximize the [championship] points for the 6 car [their teammates]. After today, they’re going to the Petit Le Mans season finale in great shape. It’s a perfect day for the team. We were there to support them the best way we could and bring Acura our second 1-2 finish of the season. I’m really happy for the No. 6 car guys and the team, and now we can focus on getting the win at Petit."
- Ricky Taylor