Photograph: Rick Dole/IMSA
Porsche Penske Motorsport’s 1-2 end within the Battle of the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been “a day for the historical past books” in keeping with Mathieu Jaminet, who together with Nick Tandy claimed victory within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s return to The Brickyard.
The co-drivers of the No. 6 Porsche 963 put themselves again within the GTP class championship combat with their second victory of the season, in a race that was managed by the German producer.
“It’s a fantastic day for Porsche, for the entire staff,” stated Jaminet. “It’s the primary 1-2 for the Porsche Penske operation between WEC and IMSA so I believe it’s a day for the historical past books for us. We’re actually happy for it.”
Tandy, who took the automobile to the checkered flag, stated Sunday’s win was “two-fold” in not solely claiming victory on the Roger Penske-owned observe nevertheless it additionally coming at a pivotal level within the championship run.
“To return right here to a venue like this, particularly for Porsche Penske Motorsport and the entire ties that Penske Company have with this place, is very large,” stated Tandy.
“It means an enormous quantity and the truth that it’s a staff 1-2 makes it even sweeter.
“From a producers’ championship viewpoint, it’s large. Clearly the second a part of that is the factors scenario and it being the penultimate spherical.
“I stated earlier than the weekend, we realistically wanted to win right here to have an honest shot going into Atlanta and it’s given us an opportunity, on the finish of the day.
“It’s given the staff an opportunity of profitable a championship in Atlanta, it’s wonderful.
“I used to be actually, actually happy to cross that yard [of bricks]. It was an emotional second for positive.”
Tandy and Jaminet now sit third within the GTP factors standings, simply 5 factors from the lead forward of subsequent month’s title-deciding Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Highway Atlanta.
Having received on the highway on the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, a post-race technical infraction stripped Jaminet and Tandy of victory at Watkins Glen earlier this yr, one thing the Frenchman stated has affected him till now.
“Actually I’ve been very disenchanted since Watkins Glen; we’ve solely had just about unhealthy races,” Jaminet stated.
“ it, it nonetheless hurts. To lastly get a win again, and it places us again within the championship hunt, it actually feels good. I’m simply hungry for extra, to be sincere.
“I simply wish to go to Highway Atlanta now and race.”
Each the Nos. 6 and seven Porsches overcame a setback early within the second hour when IMSA race management deemed that the 2 vehicles didn’t observe directions for the category cut up in a well timed fashoion.
Tandy and the then second-placed No. 7 Porsche of Felipe Nasr dropped to second and third, respectively, on the restart, to the No. 31 Motion Categorical Racing Cadillac V-Sequence.R of Pipo Derani, who led 27 laps till getting handed by Nasr for the lead.
“I used to be somewhat late getting the decision to go however I already pulled out in line to provoke the category cut up,” Tandy defined. “I went for it. However on the identical time, the 31 had already began accelerating and did cross us earlier than we made the category cut up.
“I maintained my place. We had hopefully performed the process right. That they had clearly thought they’d performed the process accurately.
“It was clearly dominated by race management that the 31 needs to be in entrance. It compromised somewhat little bit of each our tire warmup by being facet by facet for 2 laps. That was the scenario.”
