Tandy gave the impression to be on the right track to seize provisional pole place for Porsche Penske Motorsport in Sunday’s qualifying session.
However, after setting two quick sector instances, Tandy locked up his left-front tire and misplaced management of the rear of his #6 Porsche on the Bus Cease chicane, spinning head-on into the tirewall.
After inflicting a purple flag, which value him his two finest instances, Tandy was in a position to drag his broken automotive again to the pits.
The shunt means the #6 will begin the Rolex 24 from the again of the GTP pack in ninth place.
#6 Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963: Mathieu Jaminet, Nick Tandy, Dane Cameron
Photograph by: Perrywinkle Johnson / Motorsport Images
“I’ve to say thanks to the group for giving me such a tremendous automotive to drive,” mentioned Tandy. “I’ve by no means skilled the Porsche 963 in these circumstances with that type of velocity and steadiness. And truthfully, the automotive was simply wonderful.
“The lap time was trying superb. It doesn’t appear like we’ve accomplished an excessive amount of injury fortunately.
“It’s not the perfect scenario going right into a 24-hour race when elements are restricted, however the optimistic is how the group has been working this week and how briskly the automotive is.”
#6 Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963: Mathieu Jaminet, Nick Tandy, Dane Cameron
Photograph by: Perrywinkle Johnson / Motorsport Images
It was left to ex-F1 driver and two-time IMSA champion Felipe Nasr to ship a front-row beginning spot for PPM for the opening spherical of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, as he missed out on pole by 0.083s.
“The primary qualifying of the yr in IMSA and it’s a entrance row for Porsche Penske Motorsport,” mentioned Nasr, who will share his automotive with Matt Campbell and Michael Christensen subsequent weekend.
“I’m actually proud of the lap we did. We made actually good progress over the week understanding the automotive, the tires and the circumstances on the market.
“It will be good to be on pole, however the larger image is subsequent weekend. We unlocked some velocity on the automotive, which was good to see.”
#7 Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963: Matt Campbell, Felipe Nasr, Michael Christensen
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images
Porsche Penske Motorsport managing director Jonathan Diuguid was inspired that it was a “true” reflection of the automotive’s tempo on the primary weekend of direct GTP competitors.
The #7 automotive boasted a theoretical finest lap of 1m34.011s, that might’ve shaded Tom Blomqvist’s quickest time in his Meyer Shank Racing Acura by 0.02s, however Nasr didn’t do all of his quickest sector instances on the identical try.
“I’m actually pleased with the group and all the people who have labored collectively to get us up to now,” mentioned Diuguid. “It was actually enjoyable to point out the automotive’s true potential.
“Each automobiles had velocity to run for the pole. We had a small mistake within the Bus Cease which was unlucky, however the suggestions from each Nick and Felipe have been that the automobiles have been actually unbelievable.
“We’re trying ahead to the Daytona 24 Hours as a result of the automobiles clearly have the tempo.”
