trying not to get ahead of myself but WOW!
I've never seen the Mazdas running this fast.

57 second lead.
LOTS of racing left to do but they definitely have the pace to do this.

Let's go Mazda!

 

Interesting race strategy by Mazda here splitting up the fuel windows for the 2 cars.
Hoping the 77 can work it's way back up.

 

Montoya in the #6 Acura definitely has some speed and doesn't have much of an issue keeping up with Bomarito in the #55. Hopefully both Mazda can maintain their pace like the first two hours of the race.

Edit: good to see Bernhard doing well in the #77 and picking up speed after the last pit. Bombing the track in P1.

 

I'm only looking at timing and scoring today, but it's looking really good.

As long as there are no yellow flags and Joest has their pit act together, they've got this.

 

I'm as perplexed as the announcers with this Team Joest fuel strategy but the cars continue to run STRONG.
oh, race leading #55 coming in for a pit.
4 new tires
fuel
Pla stays in the car.

Pit guys have been ON IT, there's a 30 second minnimum fuel window in place for DPi and Mazda has been ready to go before the 30 second mark on almost every single pit including driver change stops.

 

did the 77 just make contact with the back of that stupid Cadillac?
from the on board camera, looked like it.

 

holy. fawk.
55 just put down a lap 1/100 off their qualifying lap!

these drivers are dialed in and going for it.

 

stupid *&^%ing Cadillac, get out of the way!

 

That's some major assholery dirty racing!

 

that was a BITCH move by the Cadilac!!!!
veered completely off their racing line to hit the 77 and try to keep him behind.

That car is a lap down and almost just took out the race leader.

then the freaking Audi hits the Mazda and if the 77 spins there, the 55 probably plows into him they were running in such tight formation.

 

This dirty racing by Albuquerque in the #5 Caddy is allowing the Acura to slowly catch up to both the #55 and #77. Come on Albuquerque, you're a f'ing lap behind. F' off and let others race.

 

absolutely dirty racing.
wasn't it Barbosa in the car at the time?
either way, I don't care. you can't do that **** when your'e a lap down

 

Looks like Jarvis in #77 got around the Caddy. The gap between Jarvis and the Cameron in the #6 Acura is picking up again.

 

Jarvis is a beast!
but again, what's 77's fuel strategy going to mean for them in about an hour...

 

and right on queue, Jarvis around the 55
Nicely done Mazda.

 

****!
Mazda didn't get into the pits during this yellow
oh crap.

 

we're green with a little over an hour to go!
Acura leading
Mazda running 2nd and 3rd

I think the Mazdas have the pace to reel him in but now's the time.

 

Do the Mazdas have an advantage over the Acura when it comes to fresh tires? I missed a few minutes during the yellow.

 

Mazda!!!!!!!!!

 

What a FREAKING PASS by the 55!

 

77 reeling in the Acura
c'mon Mazda
it's GO TIME

 

SNTP, Juan Pablo is infamous for his ability to drive on cold tires but I think the Mazdas just have better speed.
this one is going to come down to the wire.

 

****!
the rear of the #55 is bouncing around quite a bit.
#77 has to beat the Acura out of this pit.

 

77 wins the pit battle
oh man, this is the race right here!

you know Montoya is going to be good this first half lap on cold tires.
Jarvis has to keep him behind him and run his race.

 

that rear bumper assembly on the $55 is hurting.
looks like it's bottoming on certain parts of the track.
gah!!!!!