Everyone remembers this March’s 12 Hours of
Sebring, Righto?
Have I mentioned lately how Mucho I’m having a
hard time getting my Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to rev-up over motor
racing lately Y’all? Or seemingly stuck in second gear? Even if Y’all are
quivering with Month ‘O May excitement…
Is there something
going on in Indiana this month, eh?
While at least I don’t have to lament over the
fact of the entire 12 Hours of Sebring being shown only behind Peacock’s
Paywall, WTF! A la Formula 1 gong behind Apple TV’s curtain, err Paywall,
meaning half of my motor racing series have gone “Dark!” Since I no longer have
television, but I digress…
Tuned in via IMSA Radio somewhere during High
Noon, (Pacific) with some seven hours remaining. Although I flitted about
during this duration…
And its sad when the most poignant part of the
entire 12 Hours race was the great story John Hindhaugh waxed poetically upon…
Yes, I understand there’s good, bad and
mediocre race officials, which obviously applies to all walks of life. But I
found the following yarn extraordinary.
Hindhaugh recounted about what I believe was
the 1999 Petit Le Mans race? And one unnamed pit crew was limbering up for an
impending pit stop.
The race official was none other than the top
overseer of the entire pitlane, and spotting one crew member with His visor
still up before the team’s car lumbered to a stop. Went over and slapped the
members helmet and whack! The visor slid shut, the team made their pitstop and
the car raced off.
The chief mechanic having observed what
happened, came over and inquired if they were going to receive a penalty? To
which the official said, I’m not here to give out penalties, I’m here to make
sure you’re being safe! And I bet that won’t happen again!
With Hindhaugh saying that the official was
Dick Martin and as I listened to this wonderful story, tears began streaming
down my face. Due to Martin’s display of humanity. Which we, as a nation are
sorely lacking right now. Brandishing our version of the Good, Bad and Ugly!
I must also say my mind began wondering about
if we’ll have another Arab Oil Embargo, which I was just a Wee lad when that
occurred. Due to the starvation of crude oil slipping thru the Straight of
Hormuz. And how will the Iran War impact motor racing in general? Since it
seems to only be worsening; as somebody pass me the raw, bloody meat…
Tend to recall somewhere within five hours
remaining. One of the announcers mused over how Renger van der Zande said the
Porsche’s were just playing with everybody! Which turned out to be prophetic.
Didn’t catch what happened to cause the two
leading Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963’s swap positions. With Felipe
Nasr in the No. 7 basically pulling over on the straight to allow Keven Estre’s
No. 6 by.
Yet I marveled over Nasr’s bravado. Telling the
team over the in-car radio He’d pull over before asking if they were cleared to
race each other? Saying He’d pull over but they’ll lose the race if He stays
second!
As think it was the No. 31 Whelen Cadd-Oh-lac’
breathin’ down the Penske’s backsides? Before Nasr was given the Ok and swiftly
repassed Estre to lead them home to a
1-2 sweep. On the very same day that El Capitano’, nee roger Penske was serving
as the race’s Grand Marshall.
Initially Ricky Taylor in the #10 Wayne Taylor
Racing Cadillac v-Series.R claimed the third podium spot. But was DSQ’ed
(Disqualified) following a post-race tech inspection violation. Elevating the
No. 31 Whelen to third.
The win was Porsche’s 20th overall victory at
Sebring. With the two Penske Porsches running special red, white and blue Mobil
1 tribute liveries. Commemorating 30 years of Porsche and Mobil 1’s
partnership, dating back to the 1996 Porsche GT1 running Mobil 1 livery at
Circuit de la Sarthe.
Whilst its also Team Penske’s 60th anniversary
of racing, and Porsche’s 75th anniversary of Motorsports. Making it ironic that
Porsche won’t be competing in Hypercar this June at Le Mans…
In LMP2, Zakery Brown and Richard Dean’s United
Autosport claimed a 1-2 finish, with Nikkel Jensen, Phil Fayer and former
IndyCar, Indy Lights and current ECR IndyCar reserve driver Hunter McElrea
coming out on top in the No. 2. With the Seester’ No. 22 second, and the No. 8
Tower Motorsports third.
Porsche claimed a “Double” 1-2 finish with the
Manthey Racing No. 911 leading AO Racing’s Roxy’, the prehistoric pink Dinosaur
No. 77 pair of Porsche 911 GT3 R’s across the stripe in GTD Pro. Being
Manthey’s breakthrough victory at Sebring.
Yet it was the GTD Class that featured the most
drama and eventful outcome. As AF Corse’s Antonio Fuoco suffered three
Drive-thru penalties for various violations, i.e.; avoidable contact, too many
crew members over the wall and a second collision on-track!
Yet despite Fuoco’s transgressions. Before
working His way back up to second place again. Running some scant 1.1 seconds
with eight minutes remaining behind Heart Of Racing’s Tom Gamble in the No. 27
Aston Martin Vantage. Gamble made a slight bobble on the final lap and Fuoco
pounced, giving the No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo the victory…
