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Crashed late in qualifying last night, crew spent 14 hours replacing the tub and the car just wasn't right to start the race. Bomarito spun the car in the first few laps (couldn't tell from where I was sitting if there was contact) and it was off the pace from there.
Lap times were about 4 seconds back of the sister 77.
This race hurt because the cars were running STRONG yesterday, the 77 had the pace early but traffic after a pit cost them a podium. Sucks, I was in the garage talking with Doonan and Team Joest engineers before the race and they were feeling really good going into the race.
So close yet so far
I hung out with Joel this morning, he gave me a ride on the circuit in the Mazda 6. He was excited to get into the GTO and race it after a great qualification yesterday. Unfortunately I left the circuit right as they were preparing for that race.
Wonder how they did.
Bomarito was pretty under the weather all week with flu like symptoms. Wonder if that was part of it?
When I saw him in the garage before they started driver swap practice he said he was feeling better.
I don't know if he said that for the cameras, truly felt better or just had a bad weekend.
It wasn't really a spin, just got the corner entry wrong.
Also, the latest Road&Track ("The Motorsport Issue") has a story on the team from the Roar and the 24. Some good photos and Doonan's PR talk but nothing new for folks that follow sports car racing.
Oliver Jarvis came out on top after a fierce battle in qualifying for Sunday’s Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio.
The Englishman’s 1:10.705 lap time in the No. 77 Team Joest Mazda RT24-P came in the dying moments of the 15-minute qualifying session that saw a four-way fight for pole honors.
Dane Cameron, Helio Castroneves and Pipo Derani all enjoyed time at the top of the time charts over the 15-minute session, which saw marked improvements throughout.
Castroneves, in the No. 7 Team Penske Acura ARX-05 and Jarvis exchanged provisional pole until the ex-Audi LMP1 factory ace’s final flyer before his Multimatic-built prototype ran out of fuel and coasted into the pits.
It marked Jarvis’ second IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship pole of the season following his record-setting qualifying run at Daytona in January.
He will share driving duties with Tristan Nunez tomorrow.
Damn, Jarvis went ALL out on and Mazda is once again on the pole!
Awesome to see the Mazda team continuing to find speed and this sets them up for a great run tomorrow. Looks like #55 is still a bit off the pace but could be Bomarito was taking it a little easy given the qualifying mishap a few weeks ago in Long Beach. Plus this is the back up tub in the car now so maybe they're still ironing out the setup.
I'm pumped for tomorrow's race.
I still think Mazda is on the verge of a win: they have the speed, they have the drivers and for the most part they have the reliabilty to compete.
Crazy start to the race already!
Castroneves was 2nd behind Jarvis but kept trying to jump the start, was poking out in front of the 77 trying to get the jump and it backfired! Jarvis hit the start / finish got on throttle and scorched the Acura on the rolling start.
problem is Castroneves then went kamakazi right into the #55 after getting off track.
the Acura took the brunt of the damage, the front right fender is damn near flying off as he's going around track but the #55 seems to be okay as it's moving up the field still. Hunter Ray (filling in for Tinknell) started 6th and is currently runing 4th.
C'mon Mazda!
Mazda is running STRONG!
after losing the lead, Jarvis is really bringing it right now and just on an absolute tear.
after pit stops the Acura had a 9 second lead.
3 laps later the #77 timed the traffic perfectly and took the lead!
Hunter Reay still driving strong and has the #55 running fourth.
Kind of amazing how a few races can totally change things.
Mazda just lapped the Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac. You know, the same car that just won this year's 24 hours of Daytona.
It's going to get real interesting real soon as Mazda is getting close to their fuel window and will have to come in to top off.
Acura is running maybe a second behind them so can Mazda get keep the lead after both cars pit? will the 55 jump into the lead and then try to hold?
Pit strategies are SO crucial right now.
whatever it takes to get your sponsor's name on TV.
Juan Pablo Montoya in the lead car is running a great race but the 77 isn't backing down. That lead is just a bit of traffic away from being completely gone.
27 minutes to go, Acura's 5 second lead is GONE now due to the yellow flag and it's time to see who wants this more.
C'mon Mazda, your first win is right there for the taking.
Props to Juan Pablo Montoya on that restart; just scorched everyone and Mazda couldn't keep up on cold tires.
Either way, another strong race for Mazda with a double podium finish of 2nd and 3rd!
What a great race. I am in no way disappointed that Mazda did not finish 1st. Their efforts and skills have clearly paid off.
The race had me at the edge of my seat. The needle threading through traffic in a narrow track definitely had enough risk to give me anxiety. I wonder if Oliver Jarvis would've had a better fighting chance against Montoya through the traffic, because Nunez is seemingly conservative during his stint.
Does anybody know what happened during the final lap with the #55 and the Whelen Caddy? They were neck and neck for a bit and passed a Porsche on yellow. When the camera cut back to the #55 after a number of seconds, the car was slowed to a crawl before picking up pace again. The Live Stream in-car camera for the #55 also went offline during the slow down.
I heard something about the 55 losing all power. Maybe a weird electrical glitch but sounds like Bomarito was able to cycle it back on.
Fortunately the Cadillac getting that drive by penalty preserved the podium finish for Mazda.
This was a Hell of a race! I'm stoked for Mazda, not the result they truly wanted but damn they're looking good right now.
04-11-2019, 07:36 PM
