IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Race Report - Sebring

July 19, 2020

Track: Sebring International Raceway
Race: Grand Prix of Sebring
Date: July 18, 2020

No. 6 Acura ARX-05 DPi – Dane Cameron/Juan Pablo Montoya
Start: 2nd
Overall Finish: 6th
Class Finish: 6th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 83/83

Recap:

Juan Pablo Montoya qualified the No. 6 Acura ARX-05 DPi in the second starting position for the Grand Prix of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway, but having to spend more time on pit road than the other DPi competitors resulted in the team finishing the sprint event in the sixth position.
The race began with Montoya dropping two spots at the drop of the green flag. Overall, he was happy with the balance of the Acura and he was able to eventually settle into the third position.
Montoya pitted from the third position on lap 37 to turn the car over to Dane Cameron for a run to the finish. Unfortunately, both Acura Team Penske DPi entries had to make four full pit stops for fuel throughout the two hour and 40-minute event, while their competitors were able to make it to the end on three full pit stops.
Cameron fought through handling issues late in the race on the bumpy Sebring circuit, but the lost track position and time was too much to overcome before crossing the finish line.

Quote:
"We knew it was going to be a difficult weekend. We had very nice pace in qualifying and I was really happy with the lap I put down in the session. Based on the last few races, with where we were with our fuel capacity, we knew it was going to be a tough night in having to save fuel, and that is exactly what it was. Now we will just have to see what comes out of this race before we get to Road America, but Acura Team Penske is preparing fast racecars. When you have to make an extra pit stop versus the other competitors there isn't much you can do."

No. 7 Acura ARX-05 DPi – Helio Castroneves/Ricky Taylor
Start: 5th
Overall Finish: 7th
Class Finish: 7th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 83/83

Recap:

Similar to their Acura Team Penske counterparts on the No. 6 Acura ARX-05, the No. 7 Acura Team Penske ARX-05 DPi team showed plenty of pace in Saturday night's Grand Prix of Sebring at Sebring International Raceway, but were forced to spend too much extra time on pit road to challenge for the race win.
Helio Castroneves qualified the No. 7 Acura in the sixth position but was able to move up to fifth when the race began due to a penalty handed down on the No. 5 entry. On lap 12, Castroneves radioed that he had an issue with power on the Acura as it would not pull as he shifted through the gears. He was eventually called to pit road to diagnose the issue.
The problem was quickly repaired, and Castroneves rejoined the event, but one lap down to the race leaders. However, a caution on lap 15 allowed the Brazilian wheelman to get the free pass back to lead-lap racing.
Ricky Taylor was handed the reins during a pit stop on lap 44 and he aggressively maneuvered the No. 7 around the rough Sebring circuit, turning some of the fastest lap times in the field as the laps wound down. Unfortunately, the extra trip to pit road also put the team in too much of a deficit to make up before the end of the event.
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will next visit the picturesque Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, WI on August 2.

Quote:
"Obviously, we started well but had an issue with the boost and power on the No. 7 Acura. I was going through the gears and could feel the car just wasn't pulling. The guys did a phenomenal job in fixing it, and we were able to get our lap back. It was frustrating because we did everything we could to keep up, but the Cadillacs were too strong tonight. Hopefully, the series can see what we are up against and we will be more competitive at Road America. It was still a great job by everyone at Acura Team Penske."