Cooper MacNeil (Hinsdale, Ill.) and Gunnar Jeannette (Salt Lake City, Ut.) finished eighth in today’s running of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix featuring America’s Tire 250.
At the drop of the green at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca a large accident between several cars on the front stretch forced MacNeil to take evasive action as he headed toward the green flag on the first lap. A 20-minute caution period for clean-up followed and MacNeil proceeded to get the No. 63 WeatherTech Racing Ferrari up to fourth in GTD. Turning over to Jeannette, he was able to keep the Scuderia Corsa prepared Ferrari in the hunt for a podium finish. At three-quarter distance he was battling with the Scuderia Corsa sister car and had contact. The contact, together with tire strategy kept the team out of the top five and a possible podium finish.
“That was an up and down race,” Jeannette said. “We were in good position for a while and then made the wrong call on tire strategy. We got passed by almost everybody. Then, the last thing you want to happen, we have contact with our teammate. All in all, it wasn’t a very good day for the WeatherTech Racing team. We will be looking to finish the season on a high-note at Petit next month.”
“The start was crazy,” MacNeil said. “When I came through the last turn as the green was flying there was all kinds of cars spinning on the front stretch. I was lucky to get through all of the debris without a tire puncture. I was able to get in a rhythm and get the car in the top five when I turned it over to Gunnar. Our strategy is usually spot on, but today we missed it and the contact with the 64 didn’t help. On to Petit Le Mans.”
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will travel to Road Atlanta for the season finale Motul Petit Le Mans, October 9-11.
