Large field of cars in all classes that displayed patriotic colors. [Joe Jennings Photo]
By Joe Jennings
Watkins Glen, N. Y. – IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship brigade has descended upon Watkins Glen International this weekend for the Sahlen’s Six-Hours of the Glen, the third longest race if the 12-race season.
Being it is the July 4th holiday weekend, more than half of the 42 entries were adorned in commemorative colors. Those cars were lined up on the track Thursday for a colorful photoshoot.
Fastest in the GTLM class was the Ford GT of Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook. [Joe Jennings Photo]
Action Express Racing Cadillac sports stars and stripes. [Joe Jennings Photo]
Team Patron Nissan adorned in patriotic colors. [Joe Jennings Photo]
Action Express Racing Prototype sported colorful graphic entitled “Support Our Troops.” [Joe Jennings Photo]
Large field of cars in all classes that displayed patriotic colors. [Joe Jennings Photo]
Juan Pablo Montoya gets ready for action. [Joe Jennings Photo]
Helio Castroneves anxious to go racing. [Joe Jennings Photo]
Team Penske Acura of Juan Pablo Montoya and Dane Cameron races through Turn 1. [Joe Jennings Photo]
Lexus GT3 of Jack Hawksworth and Mario Farnbacher in action. [Joe Jennings Photo]
Of the 42 entries, 16 Prototypes are on hand along with six GTLM’s and 18 GTD teams.
Of 105 drivers on the provisional entry list, 26 of them have picked up one or more victories in this event.
Andy Lally leads in victories with four followed by Christian Fittipaldi, Bill Auberlen and Richard Westbrook with three each.
In team statistics, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing has five wins with Action Express Racing next in line with four and Spirit of Daytona Racing a notch behind with three victories.
The 42 teams took to the 3.4-mile road course on Friday on a sunny day. In the first practice run, the Acura Team Penske car of Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya led the way with a time of 1:33.562 or 130.822 miles per hour in the Prototype class. Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook topped the GTLM class in their Ford GT and a Lexus GT3 of Jack Hawksworth and Mario Farnbacher was fastest in GTD competition.
Two more practice sessions precede Saturday’s mid-day qualifications. FS1 will carry the action live when the race lags off at 9:45 a.m. ET on Sunday.